# transmission

/tɹænsˈmɪʃən/ (US) · /tɹænsmˈɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/transmission
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. signals or data

noun · CEFR B2

the act of sending out electronic signals, like radio, television, or internet data.

For teachers: the process of broadcasting or communicating information via electromagnetic waves or digital signals.

- The storm caused a break in the satellite transmission for several minutes.
- The encryption protocols ensure that data transmission remains secure even when passing through public networks.

### 2. spreading a disease

noun · CEFR B2

the way a disease or virus passes from one person to another.

For teachers: the passing of a pathogen or communicable disease from an infected host to another individual.

- Wearing masks can help reduce the transmission of the flu.
- Public health officials are monitoring the rate of community transmission to determine if further restrictions are necessary.

### 3. car gearbox

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the part of a vehicle that moves power from the engine to the wheels.

For teachers: the assembly of gears and associated parts by which power is transmitted from the engine to a driving axle.

- The car is making a strange noise because the transmission is broken.
- Modern automatic transmissions use sophisticated electronic sensors to optimise gear shifts for fuel efficiency.

Usage: In British English, 'gearbox' is the more common term for this component.

### 4. legal transfer

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

the legal right to pass property or money to an heir after death.

For teachers: the legal transfer of an inheritance, right, or privilege from a deceased person to their successor.

- The transmission of the family estate was handled by a team of lawyers.
- The treaty governs the transmission of titles and land rights in the event of a monarch's death without a direct heir.

### 5. passing down culture or text

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the way stories, information, or beliefs are passed from one generation to the next.

For teachers: the process by which cultural knowledge, traditions, or historical texts are preserved and passed through time.

- Oral transmission kept these ancient stories alive for hundreds of years.
- Scholars study the transmission of Greek philosophy through medieval translations to understand how these ideas reached the modern era.

## Examples

- Hand washing helps prevent the transmission of germs.
- The health department released new guidelines to reduce the transmission of the virus in crowded public spaces.
- The rapid transmission of information across global networks has fundamentally altered how legal systems address intellectual property rights and digital privacy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.