communications

com·mu·ni·ca·tion

C0517900 (kə-myo͞o′nĭ-kā′shən)n.1. The act of communicating; transmission.2. a. The exchange of thoughts, messages, or information, as by speech, signals, writing, or behavior.b. Interpersonal rapport.3. communications(used with a sing. or pl. verb)a. The art and technique of using words effectively to impart information or ideas.b. The field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means, such as print or broadcasting.c. Any of various professions involved with the transmission of information, such as advertising, broadcasting, or journalism.4. Something communicated; a message.5. communications A means of communicating, especially:a. A system, such as mail, telephone, or television, for sending and receiving messages.b. A network of routes for sending messages and transporting troops and supplies.6. communications The technology employed in transmitting messages.7. Biology The transfer of information from one molecule, cell, or organism to another, as by chemical or electrical signals or by behaviors.8. Anatomy a. An opening or connecting passage between two structures.b. A joining or connecting of solid fibrous structures, such as tendons and nerves.

com·mu′ni·ca′tion·al adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

communications - the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); "communications is his major field of study"communication theoryentropy, selective information, information - (communication theory) a numerical measure of the uncertainty of an outcome; "the signal contained thousands of bits of information"discipline, field of study, subject area, subject field, bailiwick, subject, field, study - a branch of knowledge; "in what discipline is his doctorate?"; "teachers should be well trained in their subject"; "anthropology is the study of human beings"

Translations

联络途径通信系统

communicate

(kəˈmjuːnikeit) verb1. to tell (information etc). She communicated the facts to him.传达2. to get in touch (with). It's difficult to communicate with her now that she has left the country.联络comˌmuniˈcation noun1. (an act, or means, of) conveying information. Communication is difficult in some remote parts of the country.通信2. a piece of information given, a letter etc. I received your communication in this morning's post. 信息，书信 comˌmuniˈcations noun plural means of sending messages or of transporting (eg troops and supplies). 通信系统，联络途径 comˈmunicative (-tiv) adjective (negative uncommunicative) talkative; sociable. She's not very communicative this morning. 爱说话的，交际的 communication cord a chain etc in a railway carriage, to be pulled in an emergency. 火车车厢内的报警索communiˈcations ˌsatellite noun通信卫星

Communications EN-UKEN-GB-P0022780 EN-USEN-US-P0022780

ES-ESES-ES-P0022780 PT-PTPT-PT-P0022780 → 沟通与交流 ZH-CNZH-CN-P0022780

communications

[kə‚myü·nə′kā·shənz] (engineering) The science and technology by which information is collected from an originating source, transformed into electric currents or fields, transmitted over electrical networks or space to another point, and reconverted into a form suitable for interpretation by a receiver.

communications

In the electronic world, it is the transfer of data and information from one location to another. "Data communications" or "datacom" refers to digital transmission. "Telecommunications" or "telecom" refers to a mix of voice and data, both analog and digital. However, due to digital convergence, "telecommunications" implies "data communications."

"Networking" generally refers to a local area network (LAN), but it may refer to a wide area network (WAN), which is commonly called a telecom network.

The term "communications" may refer only to voice-related subjects such as PBXs, modems, call centers and the like. However, the word is also a common English word such as in the "Analog vs. Digital Communications" headline below. Thus, "communications" is used specifically in some cases and generically in others.

The Protocol
The way data communications systems "talk to" each other is defined in a set of standards called "protocols." Protocols work in a hierarchy starting at the top with the user's program and ending at the bottom with the plugs, sockets and electrical signals. See communications protocol and OSI model.

Analog vs. Digital Communications

Prior to the Internet, the world's largest communications system was the telephone network, a mix of analog and digital lines. It used to be entirely analog and transmitted only voice frequencies, but is today almost entirely digital. The only analog part is the line between the telephone and a digital conversion point (digital loop carrier) within about a mile of the customer.

Amplifiers Boost the Noise
Analog systems are error prone because the electronic transmission of the sound waves get mixed together with unwanted, nearby signals (noise). In long distance analog telephone networks, amplifiers were placed in the line every few miles to boost the signal, but they also boosted the noise. By the time the person or modem received the signal at the other end, it may have been impossible to decipher.

Repeaters Regenerate
In a digital network, the transmitted voice is made up of only two elements (binary). Instead of amplifiers, repeaters are used, which analyze the incoming signal and regenerate a new outgoing signal. Any noise on the line is filtered out at the next repeater. When data are made up of only two signals (0 and 1), they can be more easily distinguished from the garble. Digital is simple.

The First Analog Communications

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell sent the first electronic communications over a wire when he said, "Mr. Watson. Come here! I want you!" (Image courtesy of AT&T.)

communications

Related to communications: Communication skills

noun

Synonyms for communications

noun the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)

Synonyms

communication theory

Related Words

entropy
selective information
information
discipline
field of study
subject area
subject field
bailiwick
subject
field
study