dialverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˈdaɪ.əl/us/ˈdaɪ.əl/-ll- or US usually -l-B1 to operate a phone or make a phone call to someone by choosing a particular series of numbers on the phone:
Can I dial this number direct, or do I have to go through the operator?
Dial 0 for the switchboard.
More examples
- Can I dial this number direct or do I have to go through the switchboard?
- She picked up the receiver and dialled his number.
- He dialled 999 and stammered out his name and address.
- He dialled her number, his heart thumping.
- There's no response when I dial the number.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Communications - by telephone
- aeroplane mode
- airplane mode
- alarm call
- bell
- break
- break up
- call sb up
- cold-calling
- conference call
- connection
- cut
- give sb a buzz idiom
- hash
- hold
- put sb through
- put sth down 1
- telecommuting
- tinkle
- top-up card
- transfer
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Phrasal verb(s)
dial sth down
dial sth up
dialnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈdaɪ.əl/us/ˈdaɪ.əl/dial noun [ C ] (MEASURING DEVICE)
the part of a machine or device that shows you a measurement of something such as speed or time:
Can you read what it says on the dial?
The dial of/on his watch had a picture of Mickey Mouse on it.
a device on an instrument that you move in order to control it or make changes to it:
You turn this dial to find a different radio station.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Measuring, weighing, & counting devices
- calculator
- calipers
- dipstick
- gradation
- hydrograph
- instrument
- light meter
- manometer
- meter
- micrometer
- potometer
- rangefinder
- ruler
- scope
- sensor
- spirit level
- tachometer
- tape measure
- theodolite
- weighbridge
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dial noun [ C ] (PHONE)
the disc with numbers on old-fashioned phones that you turn when you make a call
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Communications - by telephone
- aeroplane mode
- airplane mode
- alarm call
- bell
- break
- break up
- call sb up
- cold-calling
- conference call
- connection
- cut
- give sb a buzz idiom
- hash
- hold
- put sb through
- put sth down 1
- telecommuting
- tinkle
- top-up card
- transfer
See more results »