broadcast

/ˌbrɔdˈkæst/

/ˈbrɔdkɑst/

Other forms: broadcasting; broadcasts; broadcasted

To broadcast is to air a program, especially on TV or radio. It also means to tell people about something. If you paint your one true love’s name on your car, you broadcast your feelings to the whole world!

The word broadcast used to have to do with spreading seed, but now it refers to spreading information. It can be a noun or verb — if you turn on the radio, you're hearing a broadcast, and the station is broadcasting that show. You don’t have to be in a studio to broadcast, though. Any time you let a lot of people know about something (whether they like it or not), you broadcast. When information is broadcast, it becomes widely known.

Definitions of broadcast

1. verb

   disseminate over the airwaves, as in radio or television
   synonyms: air, beam, send, transmit

   types:

   satellite

   broadcast or disseminate via satellite

   sportscast

   broadcast a sports event

   telecast, televise

   broadcast via television

   interrogate

   transmit (a signal) for setting off an appropriate response, as in telecommunication

   rebroadcast, rerun

   broadcast again, as of a film

   colorcast, colourcast

   broadcast in color

   type of:

   air, bare, publicise, publicize

   make public
2. verb

   cause to become widely known
   “broadcast the news”

   synonyms: circularise, circularize, circulate, diffuse, disperse, disseminate, distribute, pass around, propagate, spread

   circulate, go around, spread

   become widely known and passed on

   types:

   podcast

   distribute (multimedia files) over the internet for playback on a mobile device or a personal computer

   sow

   introduce into an environment

   generalise, generalize, popularise, popularize, vulgarise, vulgarize

   cater to popular taste to make popular and present to the general public; bring into general or common use

   carry, run

   include as the content; broadcast or publicize

   type of:

   air, bare, publicise, publicize

   make public
3. verb

   sow over a wide area, especially by hand
   “broadcast seeds”

   type of:

   seed, sow

   place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth
4. noun

   a radio or television show
   synonyms: program, programme

   types:

   news, news program, news show

   a program devoted to current events, often using interviews and commentary

   rerun

   a program that is broadcast again

   chat show, talk show

   a program during which well-known people discuss a topic or answer questions telephoned in by the audience

   TV program, TV show, television program, television show

   a program broadcast by television

   game show, giveaway

   a television or radio program in which contestants compete for awards

   serial, series

   a serialized set of programs

   episode, installment, instalment

   a part of a broadcast serial

   sustaining program

   a program without a commercial sponsor

   phone-in

   a program in which the audience participates by telephone

   colorcast, colourcast

   a television program that is broadcast in color

   pilot, pilot film, pilot program

   a program exemplifying a contemplated series; intended to attract sponsors

   quiz program

   a game show in which contestants answer questions

   cliffhanger

   an episode that ends in suspense

   soap opera

   a serialized program usually dealing with sentimentalized family matters that is broadcast on radio or television (frequently sponsored by a company advertising soap products)

   tetralogy

   a series of four related works (plays or operas or novels)

   television news

   a television broadcast of news

   sitcom

   a humorous television program based on situations that could arise in everyday life

   special

   a television production that features a particular person or work or topic

   type of:

   show

   a social event involving a public performance or entertainment
5. noun

   message that is transmitted by radio or television
   types:

   rebroadcast

   a broadcast that repeated at a later time

   radio broadcast

   a broadcast via radio

   simulcast

   a broadcast that is carried simultaneously by radio and television (or by FM and AM radio)

   telecast

   a television broadcast

   newscast

   a broadcast of news or commentary on the news

   radio news

   a radio broadcast of news

   sportscast

   a broadcast of sports news or commentary

   type of:

   message

   a communication (usually brief) that is written or spoken or signaled