telephone
♦♦ tele|phone /t'elɪfoʊn/ (telephones telephoning telephoned)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
The telephone is the electrical system of communication that you use to talk directly to someone else in a different place. You use the telephone by dialling a number on a piece of equipment and speaking into it.
They usually exchanged messages by telephone...
I dread to think what our telephone bill is going to be...
She was wanted on the telephone.
= phone
2 [N-COUNT]
A telephone is the piece of equipment that you use when you talk to someone by telephone.
He got up and answered the telephone...
= phone
3 [VERB] V n, V
If you telephone someone, you dial their telephone number and speak to them by telephone.
I felt so badly I had to telephone Owen to say I was sorry...
They usually telephone first to see if she is at home.
= call, ring, phone
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you are on the telephone, you are speaking to someone by telephone.
Linda remained on the telephone to the police for three hours...ra|dio tele|phone (radio telephones)
[N-COUNT]
A radio telephone is a telephone which carries sound by sending radio signals rather than by using wires. Radio telephones are often used in cars.tele|phone book (telephone books)
[N-COUNT]
The telephone book is a book that contains an alphabetical list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the people in a particular area.
= telephone directory, phone booktele|phone booth (telephone booths)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone booth is a place in a public building or in the street where there is a telephone that can be used by the public. (FORMAL)tele|phone box (telephone boxes)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone box is a small shelter in the street in which there is a public telephone. (BRIT; in AM, use phone booth)
= phone box, call boxtele|phone di|rec|tory (telephone directories)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone directory is the same as a telephone book.tele|phone ex|change (telephone exchanges)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone exchange is a building where connections are made between telephone lines. (mainly BRIT)tele|phone num|ber (telephone numbers)
[N-COUNT]
Your telephone number is the number that other people dial when they want to talk to you on the telephone.
= phone numbertele|phone pole (telephone poles)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone pole is a tall wooden pole with telephone wires attached to it, connecting several different buildings to the telephone system. (AM; in BRIT, use telegraph pole)
1 [N-UNCOUNT]
The telephone is the electrical system of communication that you use to talk directly to someone else in a different place. You use the telephone by dialling a number on a piece of equipment and speaking into it.
They usually exchanged messages by telephone...
I dread to think what our telephone bill is going to be...
She was wanted on the telephone.
= phone
2 [N-COUNT]
A telephone is the piece of equipment that you use when you talk to someone by telephone.
He got up and answered the telephone...
= phone
3 [VERB] V n, V
If you telephone someone, you dial their telephone number and speak to them by telephone.
I felt so badly I had to telephone Owen to say I was sorry...
They usually telephone first to see if she is at home.
= call, ring, phone
4 [PHRASE] v-link PHR, PHR after v
If you are on the telephone, you are speaking to someone by telephone.
Linda remained on the telephone to the police for three hours...ra|dio tele|phone (radio telephones)
[N-COUNT]
A radio telephone is a telephone which carries sound by sending radio signals rather than by using wires. Radio telephones are often used in cars.tele|phone book (telephone books)
[N-COUNT]
The telephone book is a book that contains an alphabetical list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the people in a particular area.
= telephone directory, phone booktele|phone booth (telephone booths)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone booth is a place in a public building or in the street where there is a telephone that can be used by the public. (FORMAL)tele|phone box (telephone boxes)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone box is a small shelter in the street in which there is a public telephone. (BRIT; in AM, use phone booth)
= phone box, call boxtele|phone di|rec|tory (telephone directories)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone directory is the same as a telephone book.tele|phone ex|change (telephone exchanges)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone exchange is a building where connections are made between telephone lines. (mainly BRIT)tele|phone num|ber (telephone numbers)
[N-COUNT]
Your telephone number is the number that other people dial when they want to talk to you on the telephone.
= phone numbertele|phone pole (telephone poles)
[N-COUNT]
A telephone pole is a tall wooden pole with telephone wires attached to it, connecting several different buildings to the telephone system. (AM; in BRIT, use telegraph pole)