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television

/ˌtɛləˈvɪʒən/

/ˈtɛləvɪʒən/

Other forms: televisions

A television is an electronic device that broadcasts entertaining programs you can watch and listen to. You and your parents might argue over how much television you're allowed to watch on school nights.

If you're North American, you probably call a television a TV, while in the UK it's common to use the nickname telly. The word television was first used for the very earliest versions of the TV, around 1900. The word comes from the Greek root tele, "far off," and the Latin visio, "sight." Other names suggested at the time for this brand new technology included telephote and televista.

Definitions of television
  1. noun
    an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
    synonyms: boob tube, goggle box, idiot box, television receiver, television set, telly, tv, tv set
    see moresee less
    type of:
    receiver, receiving system
    set that receives radio or tv signals
  2. noun
    a telecommunication system that transmits images of objects (stationary or moving) between distant points
    synonyms: television system
    see moresee less
    types:
    show 6 types...
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    cable, cable system, cable television, cable television service
    a television system that transmits over cables
    closed-circuit television
    a television system that is not used for broadcasting but is connected by cables to designated monitors (as in a factory or theater)
    color TV, color television, color television system, colour TV, colour television, colour television system
    a television that transmits images in color
    satellite TV, satellite television
    a television system in which the signal is transmitted to an orbiting satellite that receives the signal and amplifies it and transmits it back to earth
    field-sequential color TV, field-sequential color TV system, field-sequential color television, field-sequential color television system
    an early form of color TV in which successive fields are scanned in three primary colors
    surveillance system
    a closed-circuit television system used to maintain close observation of a person or group
    type of:
    telecom equipment, telecom system, telecommunication equipment, telecommunication system
    a communication system for communicating at a distance
  3. noun
    broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects
    “" Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done" - Ernie Kovacs”
    synonyms: TV, telecasting, video
    see moresee less
    types:
    cable, cable television
    television that is transmitted over cable directly to the receiver
    HDTV, high-definition television
    a television system that has more than the usual number of lines per frame so its pictures show more detail
    type of:
    broadcasting
    taking part in a radio or tv program
Pronunciation
US

/ˌtɛləˈvɪʒən/

UK

/ˈtɛləvɪʒən/

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘television'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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