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dial

   Also found in: Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia 0.02 sec.
di·al  (dl, dl)
n.
1. A graduated surface or face on which a measurement, such as speed, is indicated by a moving needle or pointer.
2.
a. The face of a clock.
b. A sundial.
3.
a. The panel or face on a radio or television receiver on which the frequencies or channels are indicated.
b. A movable control knob or other device on a radio or television receiver used to change the frequency.
4. A rotatable disk on a telephone with numbers and letters, used to signal the number to which a call is made.
v. di·aled or di·alled, di·al·ing or di·al·ling, di·als
v.tr.
1. To measure with or as if with a dial.
2. To point to, indicate, or register by means of a dial.
3. To control or select by means of a dial: dial a radio station.
4. To call (a party) on a telephone.
5. To signal (a number) in making a telephone call: The program dials the number and then connects to the file server.
v.intr.
1. To use a dial.
2. To use a telephone.

[Middle English, sundial, clock, from Old French dyal, from Medieval Latin dile, from neuter of dilis, daily, from Latin dis, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.]

dial·er n.

dial
Noun
1. the face of a clock or watch, marked with divisions representing units of time
2. the graduated disc on a measuring instrument
3. the control on a radio or television set used to change the station
4. a numbered disc on the front of some telephones
Verb
[dialling, dialled] or US [dialing, dialed]
to try to establish a telephone connection with (someone) by operating the dial or buttons on a telephone [Latin dies day]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.dialdial - the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
face - the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object); "he dealt the cards face down"
horologe, timepiece, timekeeper - a measuring instrument or device for keeping time
2.dial - the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning
controller, control - a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine; "the speed controller on his turntable was not working properly"; "I turned the controls over to her"
3.dial - the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments
indicator - a device for showing the operating condition of some system
4.dialdial - a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called
dial phone, dial telephone - a telephone with a dial for registering the number to be called
finger hole - a hole for inserting a finger
selector switch, selector - a switch that is used to select among alternatives
Verb1.dial - operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial"
telephony, telephone - transmitting speech at a distance
control, operate - handle and cause to function; "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol"; "control the lever"
2.dial - choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"
choose, pick out, select, take - pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her"
Translations
Spanish dial [ˈdaɪəl] nesfera; [of radio] → dial m (= tuner); sintonizador m [of phone] → disco
vt [+ number] → marcar, discar (LAM);
to dial a wrong number → equivocarse de número;
can I dial London direct? → ¿puedo marcar un número de Londres directamente?

French dial [ˈdaɪəl] ncadran m
vt [+ number] → faire, composer;
to dial a wrong number → faire un faux numéro;
can I dial London direct? → puis-je or est-ce-que je peux avoir Londres par l'automatique?

German dial [ˈdaɪəl] nZifferblatt nt;
(on radio set) → Einstellskala f;
(of phone) → Wählscheibe f
vtwählen;
to dial a wrong number → sich verwählen;
can I dial London direct? → kann ich nach London durchwählen?

Italian dial [ˈdaɪəl] nquadrante m;
(on telephone) → disco combinatore
vt [+ number] → fare;
to dial a wrong number → sbagliare numero;
can I dial London direct? → si può chiamare Londra in teleselezione?

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But if I yield to it, the moment my eyes rest upon the dial I am filled with a mysterious apprehension--a sense of imminent calamity.
This dial with movable needle is a manometer, is it not?
To test the intensity of the light whose nature and cause he could not determine, he took out his watch to see if he could make out the figures on the dial.
 
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