channel
UK[ˈtʃæn.əl]US[ˈtʃæn.əl]
n
A long, narrow passage that water or other liquids can flow along.
n
A television or radio station, or a band of frequencies used for broadcasting.
n
A method or system used for communicating information or sending things.
v
To direct something (e.g., water, energy, effort, emotions) along a particular path or toward a particular purpose.
Etymology
The word 'channel' entered English in the 14th century via Old French 'chanel', which itself descended from the Latin 'canalis', meaning "pipe, groove, or water conduit." This Latin term is derived from 'canna', meaning "reed" or "tube," a borrowing from the Greek 'kanna'. The fundamental logic connects the hollow, tubular shape of a reed to an artificial passage for water. Over centuries, this concrete meaning broadened metaphorically. Just as water is directed through a physical channel, communication signals are directed through a broadcast channel, and human effort or emotion can be channeled toward a specific goal, illustrating a clear conceptual evolution from a literal conduit to a pathway for abstract flows.
Analysis
The word 'channel' is a simplex form derived from the Latin 'canalis'. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes within its modern English spelling without resorting to reconstructed roots that are not direct substrings.
Examples
The English Channel separates southern England from northern France.
Please change the channel; I don't like this show.
She learned to channel her anxiety into creative energy.