communication
/kəmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n
/noun
1 [mass noun] The imparting or exchanging of information by speaking, writing, or using some other medium: television is an effective means of communication at the moment I am in communication with London...
- Therefore, physicians must provide more time for these patients to enhance communication and foster information exchange.
- Thus it is possible to protect the intellectual property of online material and to support confidential exchange of communication between students.
- ‘We firmly believe that theatre is an effective medium of communication,’ said the spokesperson of the organisation.
Synonyms
transmission, imparting, conveying, reporting, presenting, passing on, handing on, relay, conveyance, divulgence, divulgation, disclosure;
spreading, dissemination, promulgation, broadcasting, circulation, circulating
1.1 [count noun] A letter or message containing information or news: a telephone communication...
- Such messages may be brief notes, communications like traditional letters, or electronic files.
- The tenor of these personal communications was reflected in letters to newspapers and by the anchor men on call back radio who invited their listeners to take sides over Dr. Ashrawi's selection.
- News, views and communications can be interesting and revealing.
Synonyms
message, statement, announcement, report, dispatch, communiqué, letter, bulletin, correspondence, news, word, information, intelligence, instruction
informal info, gen, low-down, dirt
literary tidings
1.2The successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings: there was a lack of communication between Pamela and her parents...
- The officer must have experience that demonstrates possession of the skills necessary for successful communication across cultural boundaries.
- Indeed good communication skills can help successful endeavors while poor communication can stifle and hamper progress.
- You are gifted on all levels of communication and express brilliant ideas and plans to achieve professional success today.
1.3Social contact: she gave him some hope of her return, or at least of their future communication...
- To be fair, had I been in possession of my PowerBook I might have propped it up on the bar and avoided all communication and eye contact with the bartender.
- Children in welfare homes living in a group usually find it hard to form such an attachment so they will possibly have emotional barriers in social communication and self-control.
- The interests of the two countries have been intertwined, based on frequent communication and contacts among their people.
Synonyms
contact, dealings, relations, connection, association, communion, socializing, intercourse, social intercourse, social relations, interface, interchange, correspondence, dialogue, talk, conversation, discussion, speaking, talking, chatting, meeting, getting in touch
dated commerce
archaic traffic
2 (communications) Means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers: satellite communications [as modifier]: a communications network...
- Also they ‘promote computer communications as a medium for strengthening and building organised labour’.
- Also, some satellites send and receive telephone, fax, and computer communications.
- In an emergency, reliance on digital communications or even telephone lines is unacceptable.
2.1 [treated as singular] The field of study concerned with the transmission of information.After studying communications and political science, he was soon ready for more wanderings....
- We give them a practical grounding in subjects like computers, maths and communications as well as workshops related to the transition to third level.
- She stated that her future goals are to attend graduate school, and study in the field of communications.
3 (communications) Means of travelling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railways: a city providing excellent road and rail communications...
- Because of the isolation of Almeria, with its lack of road and railway communications, economic and demographic growth was based on the natural resources of the province.
- In times of dearth, body snatchers would try other sources: country churchyards further afield would be raided if they were on good communications routes - road, canal, or sea.
- In the rest of Alberta, highways and private transportation using automobiles and trucks began to challenge the older communications network based on railways.
Synonyms
links, connections, services, routes
Derivatives
communicational
- Gandhi, however, perceived the credibility gap of the Congress as the sign of not just a communicational problem, but of a philosophical and a strategic error.
- Interested parties must be reliable, with good organisational and communicational skills.
- In this process, pre-existing communicational purposes and procedures are adapted to the new environment, but basically there does not seem to be any radical change.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French comunicacion, from Latin communicatio(n-), from the verb communicare 'to share' (see communicate).