telephone1 nountelephone2 verb
telephonetel‧e‧phone1 /ˈteləfəʊn $ -foʊn/ ●●● S1 W2 noun 
WORD ORIGINtelephone1
Origin:
1800-1900 tele- + Greek phone ‘sound, voice’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a telephone conversation
- a cordless telephone
- Fran hung up the telephone and looked out the window.
- Is that my telephone ringing?
- And he's fond of Jean-Claude, he's always on the telephone ...
- He said the campaign had identified Gramm supporters and worked the telephones to get them to the polls.
- Members based outside of London used the telephone service or wrote to the library for answers to 1,465 queries about banking practice.
- Others support the current regulated telephone system model.
- Recreation areas have telephones and pool tables.
- The naval attaché's telephone in London was also intercepted.
- White-bead chains that held dosimeters, radiation-sensing devices resembling large telephone pagers, were looped around their necks.
Longman Language Activatorto speak to someone by telephone
· To find out more, call 555-1972.· Can you call Becky before six?· She called about twenty minutes ago.call for · I'll call for a taxi now.call roundBritish /around American (=call several people or organizations, especially to get information) · I called round to see if anyone knew where Tom was.· His secretary started calling around to find out where the commission was meeting.
also ring British · I'll phone you if there's any news.· Shall I ring Sarah to see if she wants to come out with us?· Did anyone ring while I was out?· Jill phoned to tell you she'll see you tonight.phone for · Let's phone for a pizza tonight.phone/ring round British (=telephone several people or organizations, especially to get information) · You'd better ring round some travel agents to get some prices.
to speak to someone by telephone . Telephone is more formal than phone or call , and is used especially in writing: · About five o'clock, a woman telephoned Bernstein.· For details of your nearest tourist office telephone 4127.· Mr Dodd telephoned this morning.telephone for: · Write or telephone for more information.
British /call up American to speak to someone by telephone, especially in order to have a friendly conversation with them or to ask for information: · Your uncle rang up about an hour ago.· "I don't know what time the last train is." "Well, phone up and find out."ring/call/phone up somebody: · Why don't you call up Jackie and apologize?· She uses the office phone to phone up her friends in Sweden.ring/call/phone somebody up: · John called him up to make sure of the date of the graduation ceremony.· I might phone him up at home.
also give somebody a ring British spoken to speak to someone by telephone - use this especially when you are telling someone that you will telephone them, or when you are asking them to telephone: · Just give me a call if you need anything.· Why don't I give you a ring later and find out when you'll be free?
to use the telephone to speak to someone: · Diana made a quick call to Munich before the meeting.· There's a pay phone in the lobby if you need to make a telephone call.· Limit the number of personal phone calls you make at work.
to be speaking to someone on the telephone: · Rosie's still on the phone.· There's someone on the phone for you.be on the phone to: · He was on the phone to a friend when he noticed the smoke.be on the phone with: · How long are workers on the phone with customers?talk/speak on the phone: · Marie and I talk on the phone at least once a week.have somebody on the phone (=to have someone calling you): · Mr Rogers, I have Anita Payne on the phone for you.
informal also give somebody a bell British informal to telephone someone: · I'll give Larry a buzz. Maybe he'll want to go too.· Can you give Mary a bell? She rang earlier.· Give me a ring if you decide you can come.
to succeed in reaching someone by telephone: · I tried calling my parents, but I couldn't get through.get through to: · Did you get through to Mr McWhirter?
to make a telephone call that is paid for by the person you are telephoning also call collect American · Call collect if you need to.· If something goes wrong, call us and reverse the charges.call somebody collect · Anyone with information may call Doug Howarth collect at 555-0976.
to telephone someone again also ring back British to telephone someone again, for example because they were not available when you telephoned them before: · "Would you like to leave a message?" "No, that's okay. I'll call back later."· I'm afraid Mr Jones is in a meeting. Could you ring back in about an hour?call somebody back: · "Does Jake want me to call him back?" "No, he said to meet him at eight o'clock."
to telephone someone because they telephoned you before when you were not available - use this especially in business contexts: · Gage did not return phone calls from reporters to his office Monday.· Dr Shapiro is busy right now, but I'll ask him to return your call when he's free.
to telephone a number again because someone was already speaking on that line when you telephoned before: · I've already phoned him twice, but I suppose I'd better try again.try somebody/a number again: · It's engaged. I'll try her again later.
a telephone call · We keep getting calls from newspaper reporters.· One phone call to London got her a job interview.· After several telephone calls, detectives traced two witnesses to the accident.call/phone call/telephone call for · Mr Deckard, there's a call for you. Will you take it in your office?long-distance call (=to or from someone a long way away) · He made several long-distance calls to Hong Kong.local call (=to someone near you) · Local calls are free.
someone who is making a telephone call someone who is making a telephone call - used especially by people who work with telephones: · Did the caller leave a number?· Hold on please, I have an overseas call for you. Go ahead, caller.
when you use the telephone in order to tell someone something · You can buy them by credit card over the phone.· The ticket office told me on the phone that I'd have front-row seats in section D.· I didn't want to go into details on the phone, so we arranged a meeting in my office for the next day.· Maria started crying over the phone as she told me about it.
if you tell someone something by phone or by telephone , you make a telephone call to tell them it: · The survey questions 500 people a month by phone.· Reservations can be made by telephone, but must be confirmed in writing within seven days.
to end a telephone call to finish a telephone conversation or stop it before it has finished by putting down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into): · If a caller is rude, just hang up.hang up the phone/receiver: · I said I'd be right there. I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse and car keys.hang up on somebody (=put the telephone down while someone is still talking): · Mitchell was furious and hung up on him.
especially British to put down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into) after you have finished talking to someone: · There was a long pause, and she was about to put the phone down when the voice came back again.
to put the telephone down while someone is still speaking to you, because you are angry: · Call her. The worst thing she could do is slam down the phone.slam the phone down/slam down the phone on: · He tried to talk to her, but she slammed the phone down on him.
if you get cut off or get disconnected when you are making a telephone call, the telephone suddenly stops working in the middle of your conversation and you cannot continue: · We got cut off in the middle of the conversation.· I don't know what happened, we just got disconnected.
British to end a telephone call: · I suppose I'd better ring off now -- we've been on the phone for over an hour.
when a telephone line is busy also engaged British a telephone line that is busy is already being used by the person that you want to telephone, so you cannot speak to them: · She tried to call Lisa, but the phone was busy.· I called Mom again, but it was still busy.· He tried Nick's suite again. This time the line was engaged.· Janice's number is still engaged. She's been on the phone all morning.engaged toneBritish /busy signal American (=the sound a telephone makes when the person you are trying to call is already using the telephone): · I've been trying to call the customer helpline, but all I'm getting is a busy signal.
waiting to speak to someone on the phone who cannot speak to you immediately because they are already speaking to someone else on the telephone: · You're always on hold for about 10 minutes before you get to talk to anyone.put somebody on hold: · I put Dana on hold while I tried to find Steve.
when you want to leave a message for someone · No, she didn't leave a message.leave a message for · Tom left a message for Mike on the answering machine.
spoken say this on the telephone when you are offering to give a message to someone else: · I'm sorry, Mr. Perry isn't in yet. May I take a message?
to send a written message from your mobile phone to someone else's: · My daughter spends nearly all her time either on the phone or texting her friends.· Text me as soon as you get your exam results.
a system on the phone by which you can leave a spoken message for someone: · Hi Jen - I see I've reached your voicemail - I'll try and get back to you later.· I keep my voicemail on most mornings and deal with all my messages in the afternoon.
WORD SETSanswer, nounanswering machine, nounarea code, nounbeeper, nounbleep, verbbleeper, nounbusy, adjectivecable, nouncable, verbcall box, nouncaller, nounCATV, cell, nouncellphone, nouncellular phone, nounchat line, nouncode, nounconference call, nounconferencing, nounconnect, verbcradle, nouncrossed, adjectivedead, adjectivedial, noundial, verbdialling code, noundialling tone, noundial tone, noundirectory enquiries, noundisconnect, verbearpiece, nounECN, nounEntryphone, nounex-directory, adjectiveext., extension, nounfacsimile, nounFreephone, nounGSM, nounhelpline, nounhotline, nounhousephone, nounline, nounlocal call, nounmayday, nounmobile, nounmobile phone, nounMorse code, nounmouthpiece, nounnumber, nounon, prepositionoperator, nounpay phone, nounphone book, nounphone booth, nounphone box, nounphonecard, nounradio-telephone, nounreceiver, nounredial, verbring, verbscrambler, nounsecond-generation, adjectiveSOS, nounswitchboard, nountelecottage, nountelegram, nountelegraph, nountelegraph, verbtelegrapher, nountelegraphist, nountelegraph pole, nountelemarketing, nountelematics, nountelephone, nountelephone, verbtelephone book, nountelephone box, nountelephone call, nountelephone directory, nountelephone exchange, nountelephone number, nountelephone pole, nountelephonist, nounteleprinter, nounteletypewriter, nountelex, nounthird-generation, adjectivethrough, prepositiontoll-free, adverbTouch-Tone phone, nountrace, nountriple play, nountrunk call, noununlisted, adjectiveutility pole, nounvideophone, nounvoice mail, nounWi-Fi, nounwire, nounwire, verbwireless internet, wiretapping, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meanings 1 & 2verbs
Can I take your daytime telephone number (=the number of the telephone you use during the day)? Hungary’s telephone network The price includes accommodation and car rental. I had a telephone call from George this morning. Can I make a quick telephone call?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· The telephone rang, but Tom didn’t answer it.
· When I called the house, Mike answered the telephone.
· He was talking on the telephone when the doorbell rang.
· May I use your telephone?
· As soon as she got home, she picked up the telephone and dialled his number.
· Before he could respond, she’d put down the telephone.
· Her son doesn’t even call her on the telephone.
telephone + NOUN· She got a telephone call from Joe last night.
· We had a long telephone conversation.
· They didn’t even have a telephone line.
COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘get/have a telephone from somebody’. Say get/have a telephone call from somebody.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· Telephone cables were damaged in the storm.
· I had a phone call from Barbara in Australia.
Can I take your daytime telephone number (=the number of the telephone you use during the day)?· The first stage is a telephone interview.
(=a message that someone has written down for you from a phone call)· There was a telephone message for her to call Harbury.
Hungary’s telephone network The price includes accommodation and car rental. I had a telephone call from George this morning. Can I make a quick telephone call?· His cellular telephone rings in the Bull's car.· That year Mr Watkins steered Mrs Clinton into a cellular telephone franchise.· Syndicated columnist Robert Novak chatted loudly with an editor on his cellular telephone.· Motorola Inc., a bellwether maker of semiconductors and cellular telephones, dropped 1 to 49 1 / 8.· The tape was made by people who intercepted a cellular telephone transmission with a police scanner.· As he roared by, the man never saw me or stopped blabbing into his cellular telephone.
· Sao Paulo boasts more mobile telephones than Paris.· Even the mobile telephone has become a weapon in the propaganda war.· It competes with three other mobile telephone companies.· It said he had spoken with her by mobile telephone several times that night.· As a result, prior to the cellular authorization, only some fifty-four channels were allocated for mobile telephone service nationwide.· He used a scanner to listen, at random, to mobile telephone conversations.· The construction company Bouygues won in late 1994 the license to operate a third mobile telephone network in the country.
· Excellent shower block; launderette; fully stocked shop; public telephone and childrens play area.· She found it in her pocket, and hurried to the nearest public telephone.· People had no business using public telephones at 2.15 in the morning.· Particularly his own private, public telephone, a telephone with which Peter felt a special bond.· Public Telephone Public telephones are available just inside the main entrance hall of the Manor House and in the cafeteria.· Hitch watched the tail lights of the Lancia disappear and headed for the public telephones nearby.· Now those who depend on dial-up lines from public telephone systems can enjoy the benefits of integration as well.· Carry some loose change to make emergency public telephone calls.
NOUN· The fax is transmitted at a much faster rate thus saving on telephone bills.· Callers pay through their telephone bill or credit card.· Another service allows firms with offices in different countries to have centralised telephone bills.· Also current telephone bill addressed to her, One-eighty-nine Commonwealth Avenue.· Suppose a sky-high gas, electricity or telephone bill sends your blood pressure soaring.· One percent of a telephone bill and 5 percent of a Visa or Mastercard tab go into the contribution kitty.· As one woman who had a disabled unemployed husband commented: The telephone bill came, it was only £24.· I was going to Boulevard Saint-Michel to pay my telephone bill, which was long overdue.
· Their address should be available from the hospital or you can find it in the telephone book.· Also features manual dialler so you can call friends who are not in your telephone book.· A lime-green book cover, a plastic soda bottle, newspapers, a telephone book, a blue Frisbee, something pink.· He might as well have picked a family at random out of the telephone book and stayed with them.· During the week I found work in town painting houses, laying carpets and delivering telephone books.· His private address is listed in the telephone book.· I reached in my top drawer for the telephone book and hauled it out.
· She came back from the telephone booth quickly, looking distracted.· It was Bethany in a telephone booth.· Can't even dodge into a telephone booth and warn Gilman - if I could reach him.· He walked back toward the telephone booth through knots of drinking blacks.· Most of the bombs were mailed to bank branches or bank employees, but some were placed in telephone booths.· Message-sending and letter-writing went on, and they were always running up to the telephone booths at the station.· You know, I just called you from a telephone booth.
· The first telephone boxes were designed by Sir Giles Scott in 1935, they were made of cast iron.· Cash stolen: Thieves who broke into Bishop Auckland bowling pavilion stole money from a telephone box.· And that phone call ... Part of it was overheard by one of the village ladies waiting just outside the telephone box.· Look out for the old red telephone box which stands nearby.· One broker was found to be operating from a telephone box at Heathrow airport.· On the way back, she made me wait on the bench outside the telephone box.· Until recently, 1p coins topped the league when it came to money lost in or near telephone boxes.· They cluster around telephone boxes and the bus station, plotting to head north.
· Letters, and telephone calls followed.· She and Laura continued to keep up their friendship through frequent telephone calls and meeting for lunch at least once a month.· Soothed by that solitary telephone call, Diana's ruffled pride was momentarily mollified when she returned to Coleherne Court.· Shapiro did not return telephone calls seeking comment last week.· These telephone calls provoke long and furious rows between Mr Smith and his second wife.· Frequent visits, long telephone calls and letters, all keep the links strong.· I received a telephone call just before Question Time telling me that that enterprise will have to close.· A quick telephone call to Membray and a further last minute briefing confirmed that all was well at the other end.
· In one case, a law passed last year required telephone companies to design their equipment to allow for wiretaps.· Larger cities would see regulations lifted by at least 1999, or sooner if the telephone companies start providing cable television.· Mitnick is accused of having broken into a telephone company computer.· The state-run telephone company now says it wants to run its own cellular network.· To bring consumers up to speed, telephone companies are revving up education campaigns.· The state-run telephone companies have invested too little for years.· He said this could foil the widely held expectation that cable and telephone companies will become chief competitors.
· Furious telephone conversations between the two ensued.· He said Nathanson turned him down in a July 1991 telephone conversation and said she would be interested in representing his wife.· My first question is a result of a telephone conversation with Graham Bowie, chief executive of Lothian region.· Our telephone conversations cement our client relationships. 6.· Harvard responded by installing tapes to record all telephone conversations.· The telephone conversation between Dad and my grandparents must have been stilted.· Finish by recapping exactly what it is you are going to do as a result of the telephone conversation.· His hotel rooms were bugged, as were his telephone conversations.
· Very thoughtfully, she turned to the telephone directory and looked up the name.· It was as if some one had suddenly placed several telephone directories on my chest.· Smurfit Printing secured the lucrative telephone directory printing contract.· It also publishes seven community telephone directories and two magazines, concentrated in Howard and Carroll counties.· There are actually large telephone directory style books which contain details of standard bar codes.· The route is promoted in publications ranging from telephone directories to restaurant placemats, but the information is often confusing and inaccurate.· Diana and Carolyn would regularly while away a quiet evening ringing people with silly names who appeared in the telephone directory.· Illiterates can not look up numbers in a telephone directory.
· It is as vital as the plastic insulation in a telephone exchange.· The train has its own telephone exchange and electricity generating car, plus office accommodations and restaurant cars for the royal entourage.· The telephone exchange was all plugs and manual dialling-not a computer in sight.· Kodachrome was developed by two musicians and the original automatic telephone exchange by an undertaker.
· Could she do a telephone interview?· Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said in a recent telephone interview.· Then, Ali surfaced in a front-page telephone interview in the Washington Post.· The survey included telephone interviews with 3,000 people randomly selected across the country between July and November last year.
· Atari wants to link home computers to school computers via telephone lines.· A silence gathered on the telephone line.· The mailbag and telephone line brought many criticisms.· Because of the limited bandwidth available over existing telephone lines, the telcos must increase their last mile capacity.· The latest news down the telephone line is that Madonna has just bought one.· The office now has two dedicated telephone lines as well as connection to the main switchboard.· But the cost of telephone lines means larger systems almost always charge for access.
· Connection is by ordinary telephone lines via moderns.· It will travel via cable lines and telephone lines, through the air, and directly to and from satellites.· The problem may turn out to be much bigger than crossed telephone lines in the ether.· We furnished a little office and put in new telephone lines.· The office now has two dedicated telephone lines as well as connection to the main switchboard.· The miles and miles of cables and telephone lines.· Standard serial communication over telephone lines is sufficient for remote capabilities.· Soon universal time signals will be transmitted through all power and telephone lines.
· They remain friends, though she is quick to be petulant over telephone messages left unanswered and favours left undone.· Attorneys for Sheik Sultan did not return telephone messages left at their offices on Wednesday.· Army bomb disposal experts scoured the city for 5 hours, after receiving a coded telephone message.· An estimated 1, 000 to 2, 000 households were alerted by a computerized telephone message.· Desks were littered with yards of wire stories, celebrity bulletins, picture handouts, telephone messages, and empty coffee cups.· Peter Gass, an attorney for Lundwall, did not return telephone messages seeking comment.· The strawberry jam she'd made hadn't set, she couldn't even take a telephone message.· The telephone messages had already prepared him for some of the problems.
· Upgrading the telephone networks to do the same might cost even more.· The maker of switching products used in telephone networks said its fourth-quarter earnings will fall below estimates.· The telephone network around Washington and Baltimore collapses.· When the data hits local and long-distance telephone networks, the speed drops quickly to 2 megabytes.· Although the industry is rapidly introducing advanced digital communication technologies, the telephone network continues to be dependent on analog transmission.· This model is unlike the telephone networks, where payment settlement is a critical part.· The construction company Bouygues won in late 1994 the license to operate a third mobile telephone network in the country.
· They contain telephone numbers for classified computer systems.· In his letter to the student the dean included his home telephone number.· His name was the first to come to her mind and his telephone number was in the directory.· People who make their living thinking about telephone numbers identify the 10 digits of every number with a letter.· A typewritten list of male names and telephone numbers, twenty-five in all, including those of Matteo and Saunders.· Households were selected by a method that gave all telephone numbers, listed and unlisted, an equal chance of being included.· Visa has recently closed a loophole that let AT&T put a telephone number on its Universal cards.· And their telephone numbers are listed in the phone book.
· They were telephone poles that had fallen from a lorry, blocking both westbound lanes of the motorway and smashing a car.· Scattered farmhouses, sentry telephone poles, and budding green fields flanked them on each side.· Despite saturating the area with herbicide, he found rogue oilseed rape plants thriving in ditches and around telephone poles.· He sat against the wall sketching on a pad with colored pencils, a picture of telephone poles.· Seth flew forty miles an hour face first into the piling with such force that he uprooted the eight telephone poles.· He showed me how to draw a telephone pole.· No one, he kept arguing, builds a new town with telephone poles.· A single antelope stood in the line of shadow of a telephone pole.
· Members based outside of London used the telephone service or wrote to the library for answers to 1,465 queries about banking practice.· Although global access is still a problem in some parts of the world, basic telephone service is getting better and cheaper.· The Weather Communications Aviation Service starts at just £100 per year for a personal telephone service.· They have been without electricity, water or telephone service since looters stole pipes from the ground and wire from the poles.· The Government is keen to increase competition in broadcasting and mobile telephone services.· The rooms also come with two special telephone services.· Telmex loses its monopoly over long-distance telephone service on Jan. 1.· We welcome expansion of telephone services as improving the general well-being but accept curtailment of postal services as signifying necessary economy.
· Also the train had a telephone system fitted, and telegraph and telephone instruments were carried.· Others support the current regulated telephone system model.· In Kursk guberniia the telephone system was a subject for derision.· Supreme Court officials acknowledge that their own telephone system was the culprit for the leak.· Staff working in the office, on the shop floor and in the warehouse may well communicate via the internal telephone system.· One man dug using full beam while another stood by the internal telephone system with a dimmed light.
VERB· I shall be killed, Paul Schramm thought, and all because Maria Grandinetti couldn't answer the telephone.· Be pleasant to everyone, especially secretaries who answer the telephone.· When answering the telephone, don't give your number.· But the phone company patched through a line Friday night, and du Pont answered the telephone when authorities called.· Her voice was breathless with bonhomie when she answered the telephone, with an undertone of throatiness that David found attractive.· It was her job to answer the telephone, prepare coffee for her boss's visitors, and run errands.· Here are some of them: Always answer the telephone promptly.· She answered the telephone, thanked the Martellis for thanking her for the party.
· Some time ago I received a frantic telephone call from Carol, who had undergone successful hypnotic treatment about two years earlier.· The managers began to receive telephone calls from people in other parts of the company blaming them for their subordinates' behavior.· The Northern has received telephone calls and letters from people who have contributed and want to know what is happening.· Within hours of opening on Wednesday, the hotline had received 60 telephone calls, officials said.· However, less than a month later, I received a telephone call from the home.· Army bomb disposal experts scoured the city for 5 hours, after receiving a coded telephone message.· I received a telephone call just before Question Time telling me that that enterprise will have to close.· Some months later I received an emotional telephone call from my happy former patient.
· I am not well enough to ring a telephone number.· The ringing of the telephone came as a distinct irritation.· I must have fallen asleep, for the next thing I knew I was woken by the ringing of the telephone.· I tried to ring the emergency telephone lines all day yesterday from a public phone box, but could never get through.
· Members based outside of London used the telephone service or wrote to the library for answers to 1,465 queries about banking practice.· The maker of switching products used in telephone networks said its fourth-quarter earnings will fall below estimates.· It was just beyond eleven when they finished, and Rory was well conscious of his need to use the telephone.· Danielle Heitner Did dinosaurs know how to use the telephone?· The Hotel Manager's room status facility allows room status to be updated by using the telephone keypad as an input terminal.· He was glad to have a chance to use the telephone.· The project now ensures young people can use telephone boxes outside the home as well as inside, according to the deputy head Alan Clark.· A guy came out and let my grandfather use the telephone.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► the telephonePHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1the telephone the system of communication that you use to have a conversation with someone in another place SYN phoneby telephone- From 6am Brown is on the telephone.
- I told him who I was on the telephone.
- She loves to be on the telephone.
- She must not ask who was on the telephone.
- The Sheikh arrived while the doctor was on the telephone to the hospital.
- Excellent road and rail links make access easy from all parts of the country.
- However, outlying villages had been attacked and the city's rail link with Phnom Penh was frequently severed.
- In many cases they have the public on their side as the recent furore over the rail links with London has demonstrated.
- Newby is a quiet village between the busy A65 and the old road linking Ingleton and Clapham with road access to both.
- The houses will be for people who have to move out of Bentham Drive to make way for a new rail link.
- Through the World's Edge Mountains great fortified underground roads linked their underground cities.
- When it was first launched in 1982 a Minitel terminal consisted of a small monitor with a keyboard and a telephone link.
- Will he take note of the campaign to sink the link, as the channel tunnel rail link passes Gravesend and Northfleet?
Reservations can be made by telephone.on the telephone I’ve never met him, but I’ve spoken to him on the telephone.over the telephone I read the names out to him over the telephone.down the telephone British English He shouted at me down the telephone.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say phone rather than telephone:· She’s been on the phone all evening.2[countable] the piece of equipment that you use when you are talking to someone by telephone SYN phone: The telephone rang just as I was leaving. She picked up the telephone and dialled a number. I said goodbye and put down the telephone.3be on the telephone a)to be talking to someone, using the telephone: I was on the telephone when he came in. b)to have a telephone in your home, office etcCOLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1 & 2verbsa telephone rings· The telephone rang, but Tom didn’t answer it.answer the telephone· When I called the house, Mike answered the telephone.talk on the telephone· He was talking on the telephone when the doorbell rang.use the telephone· May I use your telephone?pick up the telephone· As soon as she got home, she picked up the telephone and dialled his number.put down the telephone· Before he could respond, she’d put down the telephone.call somebody on the telephone· Her son doesn’t even call her on the telephone.telephone + NOUNa telephone call· She got a telephone call from Joe last night.a telephone conversation· We had a long telephone conversation.a telephone line· They didn’t even have a telephone line.COMMON ERRORS ► Don’t say ‘get/have a telephone from somebody’. Say get/have a telephone call from somebody.telephone1 nountelephone2 verb
telephonetelephone2 ●●○ verb [intransitive, transitive] VERB TABLE
telephone
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | telephone |
| he, she, it | telephones | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | telephoned |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have telephoned |
| he, she, it | has telephoned | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had telephoned |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will telephone |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have telephoned |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am telephoning |
| he, she, it | is telephoning | |
| you, we, they | are telephoning | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was telephoning |
| you, we, they | were telephoning | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been telephoning |
| he, she, it | has been telephoning | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been telephoning |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be telephoning |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been telephoning |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- About five o'clock, a woman telephoned Bernstein.
- At 4:45 a.m., neighbors telephoned police to report a man firing shots.
- For details of your nearest tourist office telephone 4127.
- Mr Dodd telephoned this morning.
- Write or telephone for more information.
- Advertisements are placed in the press, and potential purchasers are invited to telephone or fill in a coupon for further details.
- He had tried to telephone his wife once, but without success: the line was engaged.
- He wanted me to telephone you at once and ask you to come to Danzig.
- He would have to telephone around and see if anyone else had any titbits to add to the mystery.
- I telephoned Sophie and arranged to have dinner with her the following night.
- Police take violators to a special detention center and telephone their homes.
THESAURUS
to speak to someone by telephone. Phoneis more common in British English than American English: · I’ll phone you tomorrow.
to phone someone. Call is used in both British and American English: · One of the neighbors called the police.· Call me later.
British English spoken to phone someone. Ring is more informal than phone or call: · I can ring her at the office tomorrow.
(also give somebody a ring) spoken to phone someone: · If you ever come to Seattle, give me a call.· I’ll give the hospital a ring and see how he is.
formal to phone someone: · Angry listeners telephoned the BBC to complain.
trademark to make a telephone call using special software that allows you to make calls over the Internet: · I Skyped her last night and we spoke for hours.
Longman Language Activatorto speak to someone by telephone · To find out more, call 555-1972.· Can you call Becky before six?· She called about twenty minutes ago.call for · I'll call for a taxi now.call roundBritish /around American (=call several people or organizations, especially to get information) · I called round to see if anyone knew where Tom was.· His secretary started calling around to find out where the commission was meeting.
also ring British · I'll phone you if there's any news.· Shall I ring Sarah to see if she wants to come out with us?· Did anyone ring while I was out?· Jill phoned to tell you she'll see you tonight.phone for · Let's phone for a pizza tonight.phone/ring round British (=telephone several people or organizations, especially to get information) · You'd better ring round some travel agents to get some prices.
to speak to someone by telephone . Telephone is more formal than phone or call , and is used especially in writing: · About five o'clock, a woman telephoned Bernstein.· For details of your nearest tourist office telephone 4127.· Mr Dodd telephoned this morning.telephone for: · Write or telephone for more information.
British /call up American to speak to someone by telephone, especially in order to have a friendly conversation with them or to ask for information: · Your uncle rang up about an hour ago.· "I don't know what time the last train is." "Well, phone up and find out."ring/call/phone up somebody: · Why don't you call up Jackie and apologize?· She uses the office phone to phone up her friends in Sweden.ring/call/phone somebody up: · John called him up to make sure of the date of the graduation ceremony.· I might phone him up at home.
also give somebody a ring British spoken to speak to someone by telephone - use this especially when you are telling someone that you will telephone them, or when you are asking them to telephone: · Just give me a call if you need anything.· Why don't I give you a ring later and find out when you'll be free?
to use the telephone to speak to someone: · Diana made a quick call to Munich before the meeting.· There's a pay phone in the lobby if you need to make a telephone call.· Limit the number of personal phone calls you make at work.
to be speaking to someone on the telephone: · Rosie's still on the phone.· There's someone on the phone for you.be on the phone to: · He was on the phone to a friend when he noticed the smoke.be on the phone with: · How long are workers on the phone with customers?talk/speak on the phone: · Marie and I talk on the phone at least once a week.have somebody on the phone (=to have someone calling you): · Mr Rogers, I have Anita Payne on the phone for you.
informal also give somebody a bell British informal to telephone someone: · I'll give Larry a buzz. Maybe he'll want to go too.· Can you give Mary a bell? She rang earlier.· Give me a ring if you decide you can come.
to succeed in reaching someone by telephone: · I tried calling my parents, but I couldn't get through.get through to: · Did you get through to Mr McWhirter?
to make a telephone call that is paid for by the person you are telephoning also call collect American · Call collect if you need to.· If something goes wrong, call us and reverse the charges.call somebody collect · Anyone with information may call Doug Howarth collect at 555-0976.
to telephone someone again also ring back British to telephone someone again, for example because they were not available when you telephoned them before: · "Would you like to leave a message?" "No, that's okay. I'll call back later."· I'm afraid Mr Jones is in a meeting. Could you ring back in about an hour?call somebody back: · "Does Jake want me to call him back?" "No, he said to meet him at eight o'clock."
to telephone someone because they telephoned you before when you were not available - use this especially in business contexts: · Gage did not return phone calls from reporters to his office Monday.· Dr Shapiro is busy right now, but I'll ask him to return your call when he's free.
to telephone a number again because someone was already speaking on that line when you telephoned before: · I've already phoned him twice, but I suppose I'd better try again.try somebody/a number again: · It's engaged. I'll try her again later.
a telephone call · We keep getting calls from newspaper reporters.· One phone call to London got her a job interview.· After several telephone calls, detectives traced two witnesses to the accident.call/phone call/telephone call for · Mr Deckard, there's a call for you. Will you take it in your office?long-distance call (=to or from someone a long way away) · He made several long-distance calls to Hong Kong.local call (=to someone near you) · Local calls are free.
someone who is making a telephone call someone who is making a telephone call - used especially by people who work with telephones: · Did the caller leave a number?· Hold on please, I have an overseas call for you. Go ahead, caller.
when you use the telephone in order to tell someone something · You can buy them by credit card over the phone.· The ticket office told me on the phone that I'd have front-row seats in section D.· I didn't want to go into details on the phone, so we arranged a meeting in my office for the next day.· Maria started crying over the phone as she told me about it.
if you tell someone something by phone or by telephone , you make a telephone call to tell them it: · The survey questions 500 people a month by phone.· Reservations can be made by telephone, but must be confirmed in writing within seven days.
to end a telephone call to finish a telephone conversation or stop it before it has finished by putting down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into): · If a caller is rude, just hang up.hang up the phone/receiver: · I said I'd be right there. I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse and car keys.hang up on somebody (=put the telephone down while someone is still talking): · Mitchell was furious and hung up on him.
especially British to put down the receiver (=the part of a telephone you speak into) after you have finished talking to someone: · There was a long pause, and she was about to put the phone down when the voice came back again.
to put the telephone down while someone is still speaking to you, because you are angry: · Call her. The worst thing she could do is slam down the phone.slam the phone down/slam down the phone on: · He tried to talk to her, but she slammed the phone down on him.
if you get cut off or get disconnected when you are making a telephone call, the telephone suddenly stops working in the middle of your conversation and you cannot continue: · We got cut off in the middle of the conversation.· I don't know what happened, we just got disconnected.
British to end a telephone call: · I suppose I'd better ring off now -- we've been on the phone for over an hour.
when a telephone line is busy also engaged British a telephone line that is busy is already being used by the person that you want to telephone, so you cannot speak to them: · She tried to call Lisa, but the phone was busy.· I called Mom again, but it was still busy.· He tried Nick's suite again. This time the line was engaged.· Janice's number is still engaged. She's been on the phone all morning.engaged toneBritish /busy signal American (=the sound a telephone makes when the person you are trying to call is already using the telephone): · I've been trying to call the customer helpline, but all I'm getting is a busy signal.
waiting to speak to someone on the phone who cannot speak to you immediately because they are already speaking to someone else on the telephone: · You're always on hold for about 10 minutes before you get to talk to anyone.put somebody on hold: · I put Dana on hold while I tried to find Steve.
when you want to leave a message for someone · No, she didn't leave a message.leave a message for · Tom left a message for Mike on the answering machine.
spoken say this on the telephone when you are offering to give a message to someone else: · I'm sorry, Mr. Perry isn't in yet. May I take a message?
to send a written message from your mobile phone to someone else's: · My daughter spends nearly all her time either on the phone or texting her friends.· Text me as soon as you get your exam results.
a system on the phone by which you can leave a spoken message for someone: · Hi Jen - I see I've reached your voicemail - I'll try and get back to you later.· I keep my voicemail on most mornings and deal with all my messages in the afternoon.
WORD SETSanswer, nounanswering machine, nounarea code, nounbeeper, nounbleep, verbbleeper, nounbusy, adjectivecable, nouncable, verbcall box, nouncaller, nounCATV, cell, nouncellphone, nouncellular phone, nounchat line, nouncode, nounconference call, nounconferencing, nounconnect, verbcradle, nouncrossed, adjectivedead, adjectivedial, noundial, verbdialling code, noundialling tone, noundial tone, noundirectory enquiries, noundisconnect, verbearpiece, nounECN, nounEntryphone, nounex-directory, adjectiveext., extension, nounfacsimile, nounFreephone, nounGSM, nounhelpline, nounhotline, nounhousephone, nounline, nounlocal call, nounmayday, nounmobile, nounmobile phone, nounMorse code, nounmouthpiece, nounnumber, nounon, prepositionoperator, nounpay phone, nounphone book, nounphone booth, nounphone box, nounphonecard, nounradio-telephone, nounreceiver, nounredial, verbring, verbscrambler, nounsecond-generation, adjectiveSOS, nounswitchboard, nountelecottage, nountelegram, nountelegraph, nountelegraph, verbtelegrapher, nountelegraphist, nountelegraph pole, nountelemarketing, nountelematics, nountelephone, nountelephone, verbtelephone book, nountelephone box, nountelephone call, nountelephone directory, nountelephone exchange, nountelephone number, nountelephone pole, nountelephonist, nounteleprinter, nounteletypewriter, nountelex, nounthird-generation, adjectivethrough, prepositiontoll-free, adverbTouch-Tone phone, nountrace, nountriple play, nountrunk call, noununlisted, adjectiveutility pole, nounvideophone, nounvoice mail, nounWi-Fi, nounwire, nounwire, verbwireless internet, wiretapping, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Can I take your daytime telephone number (=the number of the telephone you use during the day)? Hungary’s telephone network The price includes accommodation and car rental. I had a telephone call from George this morning. Can I make a quick telephone call?COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· Telephone cables were damaged in the storm.
· I had a phone call from Barbara in Australia.
Can I take your daytime telephone number (=the number of the telephone you use during the day)?· The first stage is a telephone interview.
(=a message that someone has written down for you from a phone call)· There was a telephone message for her to call Harbury.
Hungary’s telephone network The price includes accommodation and car rental. I had a telephone call from George this morning. Can I make a quick telephone call?· The caller had sounded a little bewildered, but had said that he was glad to hear it and would telephone again sometime.· Several Fleet Street representatives telephoned again Wednesday, the day before Laud was to appear in the local justice court.· I telephoned again early next morning before he would have gone to work, but again there was no reply.· A woman who spoke to detectives last year could have a vital clue, but be too terrified to telephone again.· Rain took a couple of steps before thinking of asking him to telephone again.· We telephoned again two hours later.· Maybe, then, it was stubborn pride that was making her stay waiting for Moira Russell to telephone again.
NOUN· She thought she would be able to telephone friends, whom she now realized were very keen to help her.· I telephoned an old friend of mine from high school and we went out to lunch.· Somebody, somewhere, has probably just telephoned an old friend by mistake.
· That evening I telephoned his home and could get no reply.· I shall telephone him at home before he leaves for work in the morning.· For a brief while she toyed with the idea of telephoning Mr Gajdusek's home to check if he was there.· We telephoned Rodrigo Paiva at home.· Police take violators to a special detention center and telephone their homes.
· What would happen if he telephoned the police now?· The court was told that Gilchrist was arrested at a house in Pershore after he himself had telephoned the police.· Mr Gibson had telephoned the police.· Anyone wishing to contact the community team can do so by telephoning Rhyl police and asking for St Asaph police station.· Rain telephoned the police and spoke to an officer who was unconcerned whether she cleared up or not.
· He had tried to telephone his wife once, but without success: the line was engaged.· About three o'clock, he telephoned his wife.· Farr-Jones went so far as to telephone his wife Angela in Sydney saying she should expect him home within days.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
British English formal to talk to someone by telephone SYN phone, call: - Excellent road and rail links make access easy from all parts of the country.
- However, outlying villages had been attacked and the city's rail link with Phnom Penh was frequently severed.
- In many cases they have the public on their side as the recent furore over the rail links with London has demonstrated.
- Newby is a quiet village between the busy A65 and the old road linking Ingleton and Clapham with road access to both.
- The houses will be for people who have to move out of Bentham Drive to make way for a new rail link.
- Through the World's Edge Mountains great fortified underground roads linked their underground cities.
- When it was first launched in 1982 a Minitel terminal consisted of a small monitor with a keyboard and a telephone link.
- Will he take note of the campaign to sink the link, as the channel tunnel rail link passes Gravesend and Northfleet?
Sammy telephoned to say that he would be late. I’ll telephone you later.► see thesaurus at phone