transmission
B2Formal/Technical/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of sending or passing something from one person, place, or thing to another.
Something that is transmitted, such as a broadcast signal; also, the system in a vehicle that transmits power from the engine to the wheels.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Has both a general abstract sense (act of transmitting) and specific technical senses (car part, broadcast). The technical senses are now more common in everyday usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical. In automotive contexts, 'gearbox' is a common UK synonym for the vehicle component, whereas 'transmission' is the dominant US term.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Technical connotations stronger in US due to prevalent automotive usage.
Frequency
Higher overall frequency in US English due to its primary association with automobiles (a common topic).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the transmission of [noun] (e.g., the transmission of disease)[adjective] transmission (e.g., radio transmission)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Slipped through the transmission (rare, play on 'slipped through the cracks')”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Concerned with the secure transmission of financial data and market information.
Academic
Used in epidemiology (disease transmission), media studies (signal transmission), and engineering (power transmission).
Everyday
Most commonly refers to the part of a car ('My car's transmission is faulty') or to a TV/radio broadcast.
Technical
The precise mechanism for transferring energy, signals, or data in mechanical, electrical, or communication systems.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The BBC will transmit the concert live.
- Mosquitoes transmit malaria.
American English
- The station will transmit the game in high definition.
- Ticks can transmit Lyme disease.
adverb
British English
- The data was transmitted wirelessly.
- The signal was transmitted securely.
American English
- The show was transmitted live from New York.
- The information is transmitted electronically.
adjective
British English
- The transmission tower was visible for miles.
- We need new transmission cables.
American English
- Check the transmission fluid level.
- The transmission line was down after the storm.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The radio transmission was very clear.
- An automatic transmission is easier to drive.
- The transmission of the football match starts at 8 pm.
- They are studying how the transmission of the virus happens.
- The manual transmission on this model is known for its smooth gear changes.
- Interference disrupted the satellite transmission during the storm.
- The research focuses on the cultural transmission of narratives across generations.
- A fault in the power grid's transmission infrastructure caused the widespread blackout.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a radio station TRANSMITTING a mission. Trans-MISSION.
Conceptual Metaphor
INFORMATION/ENERGY IS A FLUID (that flows through channels/conduits).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не путать с 'трансляция' (broadcast) или 'передача' (gear, broadcast, program). В автомобильном контексте 'transmission' – это чаще вся коробка передач, а не отдельная передача (gear). 'Передача болезни' лучше переводится как 'transmission of disease', а не 'translation'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'transmition' or 'transmisson'. Using 'transmission' as a verb (correct verb is 'transmit'). Confusing with 'translation'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'transmission' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while common for cars, it's also standard in broadcasting (TV/radio transmission), medicine (disease transmission), and information technology (data transmission).
'Transmission' is the act or system of sending/passing something. 'Transmittance' is a specific technical term in physics for the fraction of radiation that passes through a material.
No, 'transmission' is exclusively a noun. The verb form is 'to transmit'.
Both are understood. 'Gearbox' is very common in everyday UK speech, often referring specifically to the gear-changing mechanism. 'Transmission' is the more technical, encompassing term for the whole power transfer system and is universally used in technical manuals.
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