What does "transmit" mean?

1. (broadcast a signal) to send out electrical signals for radio, television, or the internet. 2. (spread a disease) to pass a disease or virus from one person or animal to another. 3. (pass on information) to pass information, ideas, or feelings to other people. 4. (conduct energy) to allow light, heat, or sound to pass through something.

How do you use "transmit"?

Often used with 'to' to indicate the recipient of the signal. Commonly used in the passive voice when discussing how a disease is spread. Usually takes a direct object representing the information being shared.

transmit

US //tɹænzˈmɪt// UK //tɹænsmˈɪt// trans·mit

1 broadcast a signal (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Computing

to send out electrical signals for radio, television, or the internet.

to broadcast or send out electromagnetic waves or data signals via a transmitter.

Example

The tower transmits radio signals to all the houses in the valley.

Example

The satellite is designed to transmit high-definition video data back to Earth with minimal latency, even during solar interference.

Usage

Often used with 'to' to indicate the recipient of the signal.
- receive
2 spread a disease (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic Medicine

to pass a disease or virus from one person or animal to another.

to cause a pathogen or infection to pass from one host to another.

Example

Insects like mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases to humans.

Example

Public health officials are studying how the virus is transmitted through respiratory droplets in poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

Usage

Commonly used in the passive voice when discussing how a disease is spread.
- spread
- pass on
- transfer
- contain

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3 pass on information (v.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic

to pass information, ideas, or feelings to other people.

to communicate or convey information, knowledge, or cultural values.

Example

Parents transmit their cultural values to their children through stories.

Example

The ancient scrolls were intended to transmit the mathematical discoveries of the era to future generations of scholars.

Usage

Usually takes a direct object representing the information being shared.
- withhold
4 conduct energy (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Academic Science

to allow light, heat, or sound to pass through something.

to serve as a medium for the passage of energy, light, or force.

Example

Some types of glass transmit more light than others.

Example

The metal rod was specifically treated to transmit heat efficiently from the engine block to the cooling system.
- block
- insulate

Origin

From Middle English transmitten, borrowed from Latin trānsmittō (“transmit”, verb, literally “across-send”).

Word family

Verbtransmit
Nountransmitter