chanel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal, Informal, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “chanel” mean?
A medium for communication, broadcasting, or distribution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medium for communication, broadcasting, or distribution; a passage for water; a navigable course.
A particular system or method used for communication, sales, or distribution; a pathway for energy, thought, or emotion; a television or radio station; a specific frequency band; a natural or artificial watercourse; (in business) a route to market.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minor spelling differences in verb inflection (channelled vs. channeled). In television context, 'channel' is more common in both, but UK also uses 'station'.
Connotations
Similar connotations. In business contexts, 'channel' is standard globally for distribution/sales routes.
Frequency
Comparatively high frequency in both varieties due to media and business usage.
Grammar
How to Use “chanel” in a Sentence
channel something (into something)channel something (through something)be channeled intoVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chanel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- You should channel your efforts into your studies.
- The drainage system channels water away from the house.
- All complaints must be channelled through the manager.
American English
- Try to channel your frustration into something positive.
- The river was channeled to prevent flooding.
- Funds are channeled directly to the charity.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A. 'Channel' is not typically used as a standalone adjective. Attributive use: 'channel management', 'channel tunnel'.
American English
- N/A. Attributive use: 'channel selector', 'channel capacity'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to distribution routes (e.g., retail channel, online channel).
Academic
Used in geography, media studies, communication theory, and electronics.
Everyday
Primarily refers to TV stations and methods of communication.
Technical
In electronics, a data transmission path; in hydrology, a watercourse.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chanel”
- Incorrect verb form: 'He channel his energy' (should be 'channels').
- Confusion with 'canal' (a man-made water channel).
- Using 'channel' as a countable noun without an article: 'We need to establish channel' (should be 'a channel').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'channel' is a broader term for any natural or artificial passage for water or communication. A 'canal' is specifically a man-made waterway for navigation or irrigation.
Yes, it means to direct or convey something along a particular path or into a particular form (e.g., 'channel funds', 'channel energy').
It is an idiom meaning to follow the official or correct procedure, especially in a bureaucratic or organisational context.
Only in the verb's past tense and -ing form: BrE 'channelled', 'channelling'; AmE 'channeled', 'channeling'.
A medium for communication, broadcasting, or distribution.
Chanel is usually formal, informal, technical, business in register.
Chanel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃæn(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃæn(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “channel surfing”
- “go through the proper channels”
- “channel your energy”
- “change the channel (on a topic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CHANNEL as a tunnel for signals, like a water tunnel (canal) or a TV tunnel for broadcasts.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION/FLOW IS A PHYSICAL CHANNEL (e.g., 'channels of information', 'channel your feelings').
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'channel' most commonly refer to?