telephone

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

Plural

telephones

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

present (v1)

telephone

past (v2)

telephoned

past participle (v3)

telephoned

present participle

telephoning

3rd person singular

telephones

Noun

Noun

×

A word that identifies a person, place, thing, or idea.

1. 1.A telecommunication device which converts data or sounds (usually speech) into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to communicate with each other over a distance; now usually a device having a dial or keypad with numerals for entering a number, etc., to connect with a person, and means (such as a sound or vibration) for alerting one to an incoming call or transmission; also, the handset or receiver of such a device.

   • Will you let me use your telephone, please?
   • Where's the nearest telephone booth?

2. 2.A means of communicating information from one person to another or others.

   • Will you let me use your telephone, please?
   • Where's the nearest telephone booth?

3. 3.Synonym of Chinese whispers (“a game for several players in which a phrase, whispered by each person in turn to their neighbour, is often unwittingly misunderstood as it is transferred, to humorous effect by the time it reaches the last person and is compared with the original phrase; (figurative) a situation where something is changed or misunderstood as a result of passing through successive people or processes”).

   • And since the spring of 1995, no game of telephone has ended without some Simpsons-loving smart-ass dropping "purple monkey dishwasher" into the chain.

Verb

Verb

×

A word that expresses an action, state, or occurrence.

1. 1.To convey (information, a message, news, etc.) using a telephone (noun sense 1).

   • David telephoned his apologies to his mother. On the way we had had our first puncture, and had taken some time to change the wheel, as we were unable to find the jack.

2. 2.To (attempt to) contact (someone) using a telephone.

   • The length ganger saw the train passing with the van derailed and promptly telephoned the Sandbach signalman, who restored his signals to danger, but not in time to stop the train before the final derailment occurred.

3. 3.To (attempt to) contact someone using a telephone; to make a telephone call.

   • The only chance we had was to telephone to the manager of the hotel in Calgary to send two bottles of Scotch without fail by the next train leaving Calgary for the west.
   • I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn't I? Why didn't I telephone? Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I'd no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape.

Overall

Uncommon· #2691

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Uncommon

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• phone