the bed of a stream, river, or other waterway.

Nautical . a navigable route between two bodies of water.

the deeper part of a waterway.

a wide strait, as between a continent and an island.

a course into which something may be directed

He hoped to direct the conversation to a new channel.

a route through which anything passes or progresses

channels of trade.

channels, the specific, prescribed, or official course or means of communication

In an emergency he was able to reach the governor without going through channels.

a groove or furrow.

a means of access

He considers the Senate a channel to the White House.

Architecture .

a flute in a column, esp. one having no fillet between it and other flutes.

any of the prominent vertical grooves in a triglyph.

(in jazz or popular music) a bridge.

a frequency band of sufficient width for one- or two-way communication from or to a transmitter used for television, radio, CB radio, telephone, or telegraph communication.

Computers . a path for the transfer of signals or data within a computer or between a computer and its peripheral equipment.

either of the two signals in stereophonic or any single signal in multichannel sound recording and reproduction.

Cell Biology . a transient opening made by a protein embedded in a cell membrane, permitting passage of specific ions or molecules into or out of the cell

calcium channel.

a tubular passage for liquids or fluids.

Building Trades .

any structural member, as one of reinforced concrete, having the form of three sides of a rectangle.

a number of such members

channel in 100-foot lengths.

channel iron.

to convey through or as through a channel

He channeled the information to us.

to direct toward or into some particular course

to channel one's interests.

to excavate as a channel.

to form a channel in; groove.

to become marked by a channel

Soft earth has a tendency to channel during a heavy rain.

noun

approach , aqueduct , arroyo , artery , avenue , canal , canyon , carrier , chamber , chase , conduit , course , dig , ditch , duct , fluting , furrow , gouge , groove , gully , gutter , main , means , medium , pass , passage , pipe , raceway , route , runway , sewer , slit , sound , strait , tideway , trough , tube , tunnel , vein , watercourse , way , agency , agent , instrument , instrumentality , instrumentation , ministry , organ , vehicle , alveus , bay , canaliculus , cavity , chamfer , chamfret , culvert , estuary , fiord , firth , flume , hollow , meatus , race , sinus , spillway , trench , vas , vessel , water-course

verb

carry , conduct , convey , funnel , pipe , route , send , siphon , traject , transmit , transport , center , converge , focalize , focus , aqueduct , arroyo , artery , canal , canyon , chase , conduit , ditch , drain , drill , duct , flume , flute , furrow , gat , groove , guideway , gutter , inset , instrument , main , medium , passage , river , sinus , steer , strait , stream , tideway , trough , tube , vein , watercourse