telegram

/ˌtɛləˈgræm/

/ˈtɛləgræm/

Other forms: telegrams

A telegram is a message sent by a telegraph, which is also called a wire.

Over time, there have been many means of communicating, such as messenger pigeon, telephone, text message, letter, and email. Another is the telegram, which is a message sent by a telegraph. People often said a telegram was sent "by wire" because the sender and receiver of telegrams were connected by a wire. The electric telegraph has been around since the late 1800's. In the Civil War, important information was sent by telegram, which was the speediest means of communication.

Definitions of telegram

1. noun

   a message transmitted by telegraph
   synonyms: wire

   types:

   cable, cablegram, overseas telegram

   a telegram sent abroad

   letter telegram

   a cheaper form of telegram that is sent abroad for delivery the next day

   night letter

   a cheaper form of telegram sent for delivery the next day

   type of:

   message

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