Origin: Latin suffix -sion
Transmission has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of sending a message; causing a message to be transmitted
"The radio station's sudden transmission cut out right in the middle of the emergency broadcast."
communication by means of transmitted signals
"The radio tower's transmission was cut off during the storm, leaving us without any news updates for hours."
the fraction of radiant energy that passes through a substance
"When measuring how much sunlight penetrates thick cloud cover, scientists calculate the transmission to understand exactly what fraction of radiant energy reaches the ground."
an incident in which an infectious disease is transmitted
"The hospital issued a warning after confirming a new transmission of the flu virus within the waiting room."
the gears that transmit power from an automobile engine via the driveshaft to the live axle
"The mechanic spent hours adjusting the transmission because the car was slipping when he shifted into fourth gear."
The act of transmitting, e.g. data or electric power.
"The new server improved our internet transmission speed significantly during the peak hours."
In plain English: Transmission is the act of passing something from one person or place to another.
"The car's transmission began making a loud noise when he shifted into fourth gear."
Usage: Use transmission to describe the process of sending signals, data, or energy from one place to another, such as in vehicle gear systems or digital networks. Avoid confusing it with "transmission" when referring specifically to a disease being spread by an organism.
The word comes from the Latin transmittere, meaning to send across or convey. It entered English through French as a noun referring to the act of transmitting something.