Television
/ˌtɛl.ɪˈvɪʒ.ən/noun
A device for receiving television signals and displaying them as visual images.
Did you know?The concept of viewing images from afar dates back to ancient civilizations, where mirrors and lenses were used for long-distance communication, hinting at a mystical connection between sight and distance.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
τηλε
“far off, at a distance”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὁράω
“to see, to look”
19th Century
French
télévision
“the transmission of visual images over a distance”
20th Century
English
television
“the electronic system for transmitting moving images and sound”
Explore more surprising origins