the hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.-the deeper part of a river, harbor, strait, etc., where the main current flows, or which affords the best and safest passage for vessels.-a strait, or narrow sea, between two portions of lands; as, the british channel.-that through which anything passes; means of passing, conveying, or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different channels.-a gutter; a groove, as in a fluted column.-flat ledges of heavy plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a vessel, to increase the spread of the shrouds and carry them clear of the bulwarks.-to form a channel in; to cut or wear a channel or channels in; to groove.-to course through or over, as in a channel.