Channel has several related meanings, all connected to the idea of directing something along a specific path:

A channel is a passage for water to flow through. Rivers flow in channels they've carved through the land over thousands of years. Engineers dig channels to direct water where it's needed, like irrigation channels that bring water to crops. The English Channel is a natural waterway between England and France, wide enough for ships to cross but narrow enough that on clear days, people can see across it.

The word also means a route for transmitting information or communication. When you watch a television show, you select a channel, which is really a specific frequency that carries that program's signal to your TV. In the same way, news travels through different channels: you might hear about a school event through official channels like announcements, or through informal channels like friends texting each other.

To channel something (as a verb) means to direct it purposefully, the way a channel directs water. A student might channel their energy into studying for a big test instead of worrying. A sculptor channels their creativity into their work. When you feel frustrated, a coach might encourage you to channel those feelings into playing harder rather than complaining.