Who turned the TV on?
Oxford Essential Dictionary
TV
abbreviation short for television:
All rooms have a bathroom and colour TV.
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
TV
TV S2 W2 /ˌtiː ˈviː◂/ BrE AmE noun [uncountable and countable]
television
on TV
I watched the film on TV.
TV series/programme/show/station/channel etc
a TV series based on the novel
cable/satellite TV
a new TV set.
He’s the top TV presenter for children’s programmes.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ television/TV noun [uncountable and countable] the piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box on which you can watch programmes, or the programmes that are broadcast using this. In everyday English, people usually say TV: Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything except watching television. | A lot of people use the Internet for watching TV. | Can you turn on the television? | the TV Guide in the newspaper | There's nothing good on the TV. | Our TV set (=television)isn't working properly.
▪ the box/the telly British English (also the tube American English) noun [singular] informal a television, or the programmes that are broadcast on television: Can you turn the telly down a bit? | What’s on the box tonight? | There's nothing good on the tube.
▪ satellite television (also satellite TV) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast using ↑satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch: Do you have satellite TV at home? | You can watch the game on satellite television. | a satellite dish (=the round thing that you put on your roof or the wall of your house in order to receive satellite television signals)
▪ terrestrial television television that is not broadcast by satellite or cable: The company has secured the rights to broadcast the Championship on terrestrial television.
▪ cable television (also cable TV, cable) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast by ↑cable (=tubes containing wires that carry television pictures): The program was first shown on cable.
▪ digital television (also digital TV, digital) noun [uncountable] programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals, with more choice and better quality pictures than ordinary television: The switchover to digital TV will take place between 2010 and 2012.
▪ widescreen television (also widescreen TV) noun [countable] a television that is much wider than it is high, and wider than an ordinary television. Widescreen televisions are used for programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals: There was a massive widescreen TV in the living room. | Widescreen TV is good for watching films.
satellite television
ˌsatellite ˈtelevision BrE AmE (also ˌsatellite TˈV) noun [uncountable]
television programmes that are broadcast using satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch
television
tel‧e‧vi‧sion S1 W1 /ˈteləˌvɪʒən, ˈtelɪˌvɪʒən, ˌteləˈvɪʒən/ BrE AmE noun
[Date: 1900-2000; Language: French; Origin: télévision, from télé- 'tele-' + vision]
1. [countable] (also television set formal) a piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box with a screen, on which you can watch programmes SYN TV:
Lucy turned on the television to watch the evening news.
They have a television in every room.
REGISTER
In everyday English, people usually say TV rather than television:
▪ What's on TV tonight?
2. [uncountable] the programmes broadcast in this way SYN TV:
In the evenings I like to relax and watch television.
3. on (the) television broadcast or being broadcast on television:
What’s on television tonight?
4. [uncountable] the business of making and broadcasting programmes on television SYN TV
in television
Jean works in television.
a television film crew
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ watch television Mum was in the lounge watching television.
▪ see/watch something on television She saw the race on television.
▪ turn/switch the television on/off I switched off the television and went to bed.
▪ turn the television up/down (=make it louder or quieter) Rory had turned the television up so loud that the people next door complained.
■ television + NOUN
▪ a television show/programme Her favourite television programme was just starting.
▪ a television series (=a set of programmes with the same characters or subject, broadcast every day or every week) He starred in the popular television series, ‘Friends’.
▪ a television film/movie (=a film that has been made to be shown on television, not in a cinema) Ford appeared in several television movies.
▪ a television documentary a television documentary about an important public issue
▪ the television news There was nothing about it on the television news.
▪ a television screen Bella’s eyes were fixed on the television screen.
▪ a television presenter British English a well-known television presenter
▪ a television reporter/journalist Grant was interviewed by a BBC television journalist.
▪ a television producer a BBC television producer
▪ a television director He’s a very successful television director.
▪ a television (film) crew A television crew were allowed to film the meeting.
▪ a television actor/actress Peebles is best known as a television actor.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + television
▪ live television The accident was shown on live television.
▪ national television The President went on national television to appeal for calm.
▪ satellite/cable television They have a dish for satellite television.
▪ digital television the switchover to digital television
▪ terrestrial television British English (=television that is not broadcast using a satellite or cable) Many of these matches are not available on terrestrial television.
▪ high definition/HD television high definition television channels
▪ a widescreen television Widescreen televisions are getting more popular, especially in home cinema systems.
▪ a plasma/LCD television Each hotel room has a minibar and plasma television.
▪ a flat screen television a buyer’s guide to the latest flat screen televisions
▪ a colour television a 32 inch colour television
▪ a black-and-white television They had an old black and white television in the garage.
■ COMMON ERRORS
► Do not say 'see/watch something in television'. Say see/watch something on television.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ television/TV noun [uncountable and countable] the piece of electronic equipment shaped like a box on which you can watch programmes, or the programmes that are broadcast using this. In everyday English, people usually say TV: Sometimes I don’t feel like doing anything except watching television. | A lot of people use the Internet for watching TV. | Can you turn on the television? | the TV Guide in the newspaper | There's nothing good on the TV. | Our TV set (=television)isn't working properly.
▪ the box/the telly British English (also the tube American English) noun [singular] informal a television, or the programmes that are broadcast on television: Can you turn the telly down a bit? | What’s on the box tonight? | There's nothing good on the tube.
▪ satellite television (also satellite TV) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast using ↑satellites in space, and which you need a special piece of equipment to be able to watch: Do you have satellite TV at home? | You can watch the game on satellite television. | a satellite dish (=the round thing that you put on your roof or the wall of your house in order to receive satellite television signals)
▪ terrestrial television television that is not broadcast by satellite or cable: The company has secured the rights to broadcast the Championship on terrestrial television.
▪ cable television (also cable TV, cable) noun [uncountable] television programmes that are broadcast by ↑cable (=tubes containing wires that carry television pictures): The program was first shown on cable.
▪ digital television (also digital TV, digital) noun [uncountable] programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals, with more choice and better quality pictures than ordinary television: The switchover to digital TV will take place between 2010 and 2012.
▪ widescreen television (also widescreen TV) noun [countable] a television that is much wider than it is high, and wider than an ordinary television. Widescreen televisions are used for programmes that are broadcast using ↑digital signals: There was a massive widescreen TV in the living room. | Widescreen TV is good for watching films.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
TV
TV [TV] [ˌtiː ˈviː] [ˌtiː ˈviː] noun countable, uncountable
television
• What's on TV tonight?
• We're buying a new TV with the money.
• Almost all homes have at least one TV set.
• All rooms have a bathroom and colour TV.
• a TV series/show/programme
• satellite/cable/digital TV
• She's a highly paid TV presenter.
see also pay TV
Collocations:
Television
Watching
watch television/TV/a show/(BrE) a programme/(NAmE) a program/a documentary/a pilot/a rerun/a repeat
see (especially BrE) an ad/(especially NAmE) a commercial/the news/the weather
catch/miss a show/a programme/a program/an episode/the news
pick up/reach for/grab the remote (control)
change/switch channel
surf (through)/ (especially NAmE) flip through/ (especially BrE) flick through the channels
sit in front of/switch on/switch off/turn on/turn off the television/the TV/the TV set
have/install satellite (TV)/cable (TV)/a satellite dish
Showing
show a programme/a documentary/an ad/a commercial
screen a programme/a documentary
run an ad/a commercial
broadcast/ (especially NAmE) air/repeat a show/a programme/a documentary/an episode/a series
go out/air/be recorded live
attract/draw (in)/pull (in) viewers
be a hit with viewers/audiences/critics
get (low/high) ratings
Appearing
be on/appear on television/TV/a TV show
take part in a phone-in/a game show/a quiz show/a reality TV show
host a show/a programme/series/a game show/a quiz show/a talk show/(BrE) a chat show
be/become/work as a (BrE) TV presenter/talk-show host/sports commentator/anchorman/(BrE) newsreader
read/present the news
appear/perform live (on TV)
Programme-making
do/film/make a show/a programme/a documentary/an episode/a pilot/a series/an ad/a commercial
work on a soap (opera)/a pilot (episode)/a sitcom
write/produce a drama/sitcom/spin-off/comedy series
television
tele·vi·sion [television televisions] [ˈtelɪvɪʒn] [ˈtelɪvɪʒn] noun (abbr. TV)
1. (also ˈtelevision set) (also BrE informal telly) countable a piece of electrical equipment with a screen on which you can watch programmes with moving pictures and sounds
• a colour television
• a widescreen television
• a plasma screen television
• to turn the television on/off
2. (also BrE informal telly) uncountable the programmes broadcast on television
• We don't do much in the evenings except watch television.
3. uncountable the system, process or business of broadcasting television programmes
• satellite/terrestrial/cable/digital television
• the television news
• a television documentary
• a television company/presenter
• I'd like to work in television (= for a television company).
see also cable television, closed-circuit television
Idiom: on television
See also: on TV ▪ on the telly ▪ telly
Word Origin:
early 20th cent.: from tele- ‘at a distance’ + vision.
Collocations:
Television
Watching
watch television/TV/a show/(BrE) a programme/(NAmE) a program/a documentary/a pilot/a rerun/a repeat
see (especially BrE) an ad/(especially NAmE) a commercial/the news/the weather
catch/miss a show/a programme/a program/an episode/the news
pick up/reach for/grab the remote (control)
change/switch channel
surf (through)/ (especially NAmE) flip through/ (especially BrE) flick through the channels
sit in front of/switch on/switch off/turn on/turn off the television/the TV/the TV set
have/install satellite (TV)/cable (TV)/a satellite dish
Showing
show a programme/a documentary/an ad/a commercial
screen a programme/a documentary
run an ad/a commercial
broadcast/ (especially NAmE) air/repeat a show/a programme/a documentary/an episode/a series
go out/air/be recorded live
attract/draw (in)/pull (in) viewers
be a hit with viewers/audiences/critics
get (low/high) ratings
Appearing
be on/appear on television/TV/a TV show
take part in a phone-in/a game show/a quiz show/a reality TV show
host a show/a programme/series/a game show/a quiz show/a talk show/(BrE) a chat show
be/become/work as a (BrE) TV presenter/talk-show host/sports commentator/anchorman/(BrE) newsreader
read/present the news
appear/perform live (on TV)
Programme-making
do/film/make a show/a programme/a documentary/an episode/a pilot/a series/an ad/a commercial
work on a soap (opera)/a pilot (episode)/a sitcom
write/produce a drama/sitcom/spin-off/comedy series
Example Bank:
• Millions watched the events on live television.
• She recalled her first television appearance forty years ago.
• She works in television.
• The Olympics receive extensive television coverage.
• The children watched television for most of the evening.
• The state television screened pictures of the trial.
• The trial was broadcast by local television.
• We were watching the news on television.
• a television adaptation of the popular novel
Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary
TV
TV /ˌtiːˈviː/
noun [C or U]
ABBREVIATION FOR television:
We ate in front of (= while watching) the TV.
What's on TV tonight?
You watch too much TV!
TV personalities
television
television /ˈtel.ɪ.vɪʒ.ən/ /ˌ--ˈ--/ US /-ə-/
noun [C or U] (ALSO TV, UK INFORMAL telly)
a box-like device with a screen which receives electrical signals and changes them into moving images and sound, or the method or business of sending images and sound by electrical signals:
a colour/black-and-white television
Could you turn the television down?
It's one of the few television programmes that I always make a point of watching.
Is there anything interesting on television tonight?
Clare has worked in television since she left college.
Your problem is that you watch too much television.
televisual /ˌtel.ɪˈvɪʒ.u.əl/ US /-ə-/
adjective MAINLY UK
relating to television:
the televisual age
an interesting televisual experience
Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary
TV
/ti: vi:/
(TVs)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
TV means the same as television.
The TV was on...
I prefer going to the cinema to watching TV.
...a TV commercial.
Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary
TV
TV /ˈtiːˈviː/ noun, pl TVs : television
[count]
• unplug the TV
• We need a new TV.
[noncount]
• Do you want to watch some TV before bed?
• She works in TV.
- often used before another noun
• a TV host/set/show
on TV : broadcast by television : being shown by television
• There's nothing (good) on TV [=on television] tonight.