Origin: Greek prefix tele-
Television has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects
"she is a star of screen and video"
"Television is a medium because it is neither rare nor well done"
a telecommunication system that transmits images of objects (stationary or moving) between distant points
"The new television network successfully transmitted live footage of the solar eclipse from rural stations to viewers across the entire country."
an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen
"the British call a tv set a telly"
An electronic communication medium that allows the transmission of real-time visual images, and often sound.
"During the power outage last night, we couldn't watch our favorite show on television because the signal cut out completely."
In plain English: Television is an electronic device that shows moving pictures and sounds to people who are watching it.
"My family gathered in the living room to watch our favorite show on television."
Usage: Use television to refer to both the physical device used for viewing broadcasts and the general industry or concept of watching such programs. It is interchangeable with TV in casual speech but remains formal enough for written contexts discussing media technology.
To watch television.
"We decided to stay home and just relax by watching television all evening."
In plain English: To watch something on TV.
"We decided to television our favorite show instead of going out tonight."
The word television combines the prefix tele-, meaning "far," with vision. It first appeared in English around 1900, likely inspired by the French term used in Constantin Perskyi's presentation at a Paris conference.