tel·e·phone (t l  -f n )n. An instrument that converts voice and other sound signals into a form that can be transmitted to remote locations and that receives and reconverts waves into sound signals. v. tel·e·phoned, tel·e·phon·ing, tel·e·phones v.tr. 1. To speak with (a person) by telephone. 2. To initiate or make a telephone connection with; place a call to. 3. To transmit (a message, for example) by telephone. v.intr. To engage in communication by telephone. tel e·phoner n.Word History: The everyday word telephone illustrates some important linguistic and etymological processes. First, the noun telephone is one of a class of technological and scientific words made up of combining forms derived from classical languages, in this case tele- and -phone. Tele- is from the Greek combining form t  le- or tl-, a form of tle, meaning "afar, far off," while -phone is from Greek phn, "sound, voice." Such words derived from classical languages can be put together in French or German, for example, as well as in English. Which language actually gave birth to them cannot always be determined. In this case French téléphone (about 1830) seems to have priority. The word was used for an acoustic apparatus, as it originally was in English (1844). Alexander Graham Bell appropriated the word for his invention in 1876, and in 1877 we have the first instance of the verb telephone meaning "to speak to by telephone." The verb is an example of a linguistic process called functional shift. This occurs when a word develops a new part of speech: a noun is used as a verb (to date), a verb as a noun (a break), an adjective as a noun (the rich), a noun as an adjective (a stone wall), or even an adjective as a verb (to round). When we telephone a friend, we are changing the syntactic function of telephone, making it a verb rather than a noun. |
telephone [ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn]
n
1. (Electronics & Computer Science / Telecommunications)
a. Also called telephone set an electrical device for transmitting speech, consisting of a microphone and receiver mounted on a handset
b. (as modifier) a telephone receiver
2. (Electronics & Computer Science / Telecommunications)
a. a worldwide system of communications using telephones. The microphone in one telephone converts sound waves into electrical signals that are transmitted along a telephone wire or by radio to one or more distant sets, the receivers of which reconvert the incoming signal into the original sound
b. (as modifier) a telephone exchange a telephone call
3. (Electronics & Computer Science / Telecommunications) See telephone box
vb
1. (Electronics & Computer Science / Telecommunications) to call or talk to (a person) by telephone
2. (Electronics & Computer Science / Telecommunications) to transmit (a recorded message, radio or television programme, or other information) by telephone, using special transmitting and receiving equipment Often shortened to phone
telephoner n
telephonic [ˌtɛlɪˈfɒnɪk] adj
telephonically adv
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  telephone - electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds; "I talked to him on the telephone"desk phone - a telephone set that sits on a desk or table dial phone, dial telephone - a telephone with a dial for registering the number to be called electronic equipment - equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor) extension phone, telephone extension, extension - an additional telephone set that is connected to the same telephone line French telephone, handset - telephone set with the mouthpiece and earpiece mounted on a single handle mouthpiece - an acoustic device; the part of a telephone into which a person speaks pay-phone, pay-station - a coin-operated telephone radiophone, radiotelephone, wireless telephone - a telephone that communicates by radio waves rather than along cables speakerphone - a telephone with a microphone and loudspeaker; can be used without picking up a handset; several people can participate in a call at the same time telephone receiver, receiver - earphone that converts electrical signals into sounds phone system, telephone system - a communication system that transmits sound between distant points |
| 2. |  telephone - transmitting speech at a distance telecom, telecommunication - (often plural) systems used in transmitting messages over a distance electronically voice mail, voicemail - a computerized system for answering and routing telephone calls; telephone messages can be recorded and stored and relayed call, phone call, telephone call - a telephone connection; "she reported several anonymous calls"; "he placed a phone call to London"; "he heard the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call" call forwarding - lets you transfer your incoming calls to any telephone that you can dial direct call waiting - a way of letting you know that someone else is calling when you are using your telephone phone, telephone, call up, call, ring - get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning" cell phone - call up by using a cellular phone; "If the train is late, I will cell phone you" call in - make a phone call; "call in to a radio station"; "call in sick" dial - operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial" hold the line, hang on, hold on - hold the phone line open; "Please hang on while I get your folder" | |
| Verb | 1. | telephone - get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning" cell phone - call up by using a cellular phone; "If the train is late, I will cell phone you" call in - make a phone call; "call in to a radio station"; "call in sick" telecommunicate - communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail call - send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message; "Hawaii is calling!"; "A transmitter in Samoa was heard calling" |
telephone
noun
phone, blower (informal), mobile (phone), handset, dog and bone (slang) They usually exchanged messages by telephone.
verb
call, phone, ring (chiefly Brit.), buzz (informal), dial, call up, give someone a call, give someone a ring (informal, chiefly Brit.), give someone a buzz (informal), give someone a bell (Brit. slang), put a call through to, give someone a tinkle (Brit. informal), get on the blower to (informal) I had to telephone him to say I was sorry.
Quotations
"The telephone gives us the happiness of being together yet safely apart" [Mason Cooley City Aphorisms]
"The telephone, which interrupts the most serious conversations and cuts short the most weighty observations, has a romance of its own" [Virginia Woolf The Common Reader]
"The telephone gives us the happiness of being together yet safely apart" [Mason Cooley City Aphorisms]
"The telephone, which interrupts the most serious conversations and cuts short the most weighty observations, has a romance of its own" [Virginia Woolf The Common Reader]
Translations
telephone [ˈtelɪfəʊn]
A. N → teléfono m
to be on the telephone (= be connected) → tener teléfono; (= be speaking) → estar hablando por teléfono
you're wanted on the telephone → le llaman al teléfono
to be on the telephone (= be connected) → tener teléfono; (= be speaking) → estar hablando por teléfono
you're wanted on the telephone → le llaman al teléfono
C. VT → llamar por teléfono, telefonear
D. CPD telephone answering machine N → contestador m automático
telephone book N = telephone directory telephone booth (US) telephone box (Brit) N → cabina f telefónica
telephone call N → llamada f (telefónica)
telephone directory N → guía f telefónica
telephone exchange N → central f (telefónica); (private) → centralita f (Sp), conmutador m (LAm)
telephone kiosk N = telephone box telephone number N → número m de teléfono, fono m (Chile)
he's paid in telephone numbers → le pagan un dineral
telephone operator N → telefonista mf
telephone sex N → teléfono m erótico
telephone subscriber N → abonado/a m/f telefónico/a
telephone tapping N → intervención f telefónica
telephone warning N → aviso m telefónico
telephone book N = telephone directory telephone booth (US) telephone box (Brit) N → cabina f telefónica
telephone call N → llamada f (telefónica)
telephone directory N → guía f telefónica
telephone exchange N → central f (telefónica); (private) → centralita f (Sp), conmutador m (LAm)
telephone kiosk N = telephone box telephone number N → número m de teléfono, fono m (Chile)
he's paid in telephone numbers → le pagan un dineral
telephone operator N → telefonista mf
telephone sex N → teléfono m erótico
telephone subscriber N → abonado/a m/f telefónico/a
telephone tapping N → intervención f telefónica
telephone warning N → aviso m telefónico
telephone [ˈtɛlɪfəʊn]
n
modif [banking, interview, voting] → par téléphone; [bill, company, line] → de téléphone; [conversation, helpline, hotline, link, message, network] → téléphonique; [engineer] → des télécoms; [manner] → au téléphone
vt
[+ person] → téléphoner à
[+ order, message] → téléphoner
vi → téléphoner
telephone answering machine n → répondeur m (téléphonique)
telephone book n → annuaire m téléphonique
telephone booth telephone box (British) n → cabine f téléphonique
telephone call n → appel m téléphonique
to make a telephone call → passer un appel, téléphoner
telephone directory n → annuaire m téléphonique
telephone exchange n → central m téléphonique
telephone kiosk n → cabine f téléphonique
telephone number n → numéro m de téléphone
telephone operator n → téléphoniste mf, standardiste mf
telephone pole n (US) → poteau m téléphonique
telephone tapping n → mise f sur écoute
telephone wires npl → fils mpl téléphoniques
telephone answering machine n → répondeur m (téléphonique)
telephone book n → annuaire m téléphonique
telephone booth telephone box (British) n → cabine f téléphonique
telephone call n → appel m téléphonique
to make a telephone call → passer un appel, téléphoner
telephone directory n → annuaire m téléphonique
telephone exchange n → central m téléphonique
telephone kiosk n → cabine f téléphonique
telephone number n → numéro m de téléphone
telephone operator n → téléphoniste mf, standardiste mf
telephone pole n (US) → poteau m téléphonique
telephone tapping n → mise f sur écoute
telephone wires npl → fils mpl téléphoniques
telephone
telephone in cpds → Telefon-, Fernsprech- (form);
n → Telefon nt, → Fernsprecher (form) m; there’s somebody on the telephone for you, you’re wanted on the telephone → Sie werden am Telefon verlangt; are you on the telephone? (Brit) have you got a telephone? → haben Sie Telefon?; (= can you be reached by telephone?) → sind Sie telefonisch zu erreichen?; he’s on the telephone (= is using the telephone) → er telefoniert gerade; (= wants to speak to you) → er ist am Telefon; by telephone → telefonisch; I’ve just been on the telephone to him → ich habe eben mit ihm telefoniert; I’ll get on the telephone to her → ich werde sie anrufen; we arranged it by telephone or over the telephone → wir haben es telefonisch vereinbart; I heard a strange noise down the telephone → ich hörte ein merkwürdiges Geräusch im Telefon; to shout down the telephone → ins Telefon brüllen
vt → anrufen; message, reply → telefonisch mitteilen or übermitteln; he telephoned the news (through) to his mother → er rief seine Mutter an, um ihr die Nachricht mitzuteilen; would you telephone the office to say … → würden Sie im Büro or das Büro anrufen und sagen …; telephone this number for further information → weitere Informationen unter folgender Telefonnummer, für weitere Informationen rufen Sie bitte diese Nummer an
vi → anrufen, telefonieren; (= make telephone call) → telefonieren; to telephone for an ambulance/a taxi → einen Krankenwagen/ein Taxi rufen
telephone in cpds → Telefon-, Fernsprech- (form);
telephone answering machine
n → Anrufbeantworter m
telephone banking
n → Telefonbanking nt
telephone bill
n → Telefonrechnung f
telephone book
n → Telefonbuch nt
telephone box, (US) telephone booth
n → Telefonzelle f
telephone call
n → Telefongespräch nt, → Telefonanruf m
telephone charges
pl → Telefongebühren pl
telephone directory
n → Telefonbuch nt
telephone exchange
n (esp Brit) → Fernsprechamt nt, → Vermittlungsstelle f (form)
telephone kiosk
n → Telefonzelle f, → Sprechzelle f (form)
telephone line
n → Telefonleitung f
telephone message
telephone network
n → Telefonnetz nt
telephone number
telephone operator
n (esp US) → Telefonist(in) m(f)
telephone sales
pl → Telefonverkauf m → or -verkäufe pl
telephone sex
telephone subscriber
pl → Fernsprechteilnehmer(in) m(f)
telephone [ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn]
telephone [ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn]
1. n → telefono
by telephone → telefonicamente
to have a telephone → avere il telefono
to be on the telephone (Brit) (subscriber) → avere il telefono (be speaking) → essere al telefono
I've just been on the telephone to my mother → ho appena parlato al telefono con mia madre
by telephone → telefonicamente
to have a telephone → avere il telefono
to be on the telephone (Brit) (subscriber) → avere il telefono (be speaking) → essere al telefono
I've just been on the telephone to my mother → ho appena parlato al telefono con mia madre
2. vi → telefonare
3. vt (person) → telefonare a; (message) → telefonare
telephone [ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn]
1. n → telefono
by telephone → telefonicamente
to have a telephone → avere il telefono
to be on the telephone (Brit) (subscriber) → avere il telefono (be speaking) → essere al telefono
I've just been on the telephone to my mother → ho appena parlato al telefono con mia madre
by telephone → telefonicamente
to have a telephone → avere il telefono
to be on the telephone (Brit) (subscriber) → avere il telefono (be speaking) → essere al telefono
I've just been on the telephone to my mother → ho appena parlato al telefono con mia madre
2. vi → telefonare
3. vt (person) → telefonare a; (message) → telefonare
n telephone [ˈtelifəun]
(often abbreviated tophone) foun an instrument for speaking to someone from a distance, using either an electric current which passes along a wire or radio waves He spoke to me by telephone / on the telephone; (also adjective ) a telephone number/operator. telefoon تلفون، هاتِف телефон telefon(ický) telefon; telefon- das Telefon; Telefon... τηλέφωνο, τηλεφωνικός teléfono telefon تلفن puhelin (de) téléphone טֶלֶפוֹן टेलीफोन telefon telefon telepon sími telefono; di telefono, telefonico 電話 전화 telefonas telefons telefon telefoon telefon telefon, telefone (de) telefon телефон; телефонный telefón; telefonický telefon; telefonski telefon telefon โทรศัพท์ telefon 電話機 телефон ٹيلي فون điện thoại 电话机
(often abbreviated to phone [foun]) v
1 to (try to) speak to (someone) by means of the telephone I'll telephone you tomorrow. telefoneer يَتَحَدَّث بالهاتِف телефонирам (za)telefonovat ringe til anrufen τηλεφωνώ telefonear, llamar por teléfono helistama تلفن زدن soittaa téléphoner (à) לְטַלפֵּן टेलीफोन करना telefonirati, govoriti telefonski telefonál menelepon hringja í telefonare 電話をかける 전화하다 paskambinti (telefonu) telefonēt, zvanīt pa telefonu menelefon telefoneren telefonere telefonować, dzwonić telefonar a telefona звонить telefonovať telefonirati pozvati telefonom telefonera, ringa คุยหรือพูดกันทางโทรศัพท์ telefon etmek 打電話 дзвонити, телефонувати ٹيلي فون سے بات کرنا gọi điện cho ai 打电话
2 to send (a message) or ask for (something) by means of the telephone I'll telephone for a taxi. skakel, roep يُرْسِلُ أو يَطْلُبُ بالهاتِف позвънявам telefonovat ringe efter telefonieren τηλεφωνώ για κτ., καλώ telefonear, llamar por teléfono telefoni teel teatama, telefoni teel tellima با تلفن درخواست کردن soittaa téléphoner לְטַלפֵּן टेलीफ़ोन करना telefonirati, javiti telefonski telefonál menelepon hringja í telefonare 電話で伝える 전화로 부탁하다 pranešti/užsakyti telefonu pasūtīt/ziņot pa telefonu menelefon telefoneren telefonere til telefonować, dzwonić telefonar a telefona передавать, вызывать по телефону telefonovať telefonirati pozvati telefonom telefonera, ringa ติดต่อทางโทรศัพท์ telefon etmek 用電話告知 викликати по телефону ٹيلي فون کے ذريعہ پيغام بھيجنا gửi tin qua điện thoại 用电话告知
3 to reach or make contact with (another place) by means of the telephone Can one telephone England from Australia? bel يَتَّصِلُ بالهاتِف свързвам се telefonovat ringe telefonieren τηλεφωνώ telefonear, llamar por teléfono, hacer una llamada telefoni teel ühendust saama تلفن کردن soittaa téléphoner (à, en, chez) לְטַלפֵּן टेलीफ़ोन पर समाचार भेजना या बात करना telefonirati, nazvati telefonom telefonál menelepon hringja til telefonare 電話をかける 전화로 접촉하다 paskambinti į sazvanīt; dabūt savienojumu menelefon bellen nå over telefonen telefonować, dzwonić telefonar a telefona связываться по телефону telefonovať telefonirati pozvati telefonom telefonera (ringa) till การสื่อสารทางโทรศัพท์ telefon etmek 通電話 подзвонити رابطہ کرنا liên lạc bằng điện thoại 通电话
n teˈlephonist [-ˈle-]
a person who operates a telephone switchboard in a telephone exchange. telefonis عامِل التِّلفون телефонист telefonista, -ka omstillingsdame der/die Telefonist(in) τηλεφωνητής, τηλεφωνήτρια telefonista telefonist تلفن چی puhelunvälittäjä téléphoniste מֵרכַּזָן/מֵרכַּזָנִית टेलीफोन करने वाला telefonist telefonkezelő operator telepon símavörður telefonista 電話交換手 전화 기사(교환원) telefonistas telefonists operator telefon telefonist sentralbordbetjent telefonista telefonista telefonist телефонист telefonista, -ka telefonist telefonista telefonist พนักงานต่อสายโทรศัพท์ santral memuru 話務員 телефоніст(ка) ٹيلي فون مشين پر کام کرنے والا người trực tổng đại điện thoại 话务员
telephone booth, telephone box
a small room or compartment containing a telephone for public use. telefoonhokkie حُجْرَة أو كُشْك التِّلفون العُمومي телефонна кабинка telefonní kabina telefonboks die Telefonzelle τηλεφωνικός θάλαμος cabina de teléfono, cabina telefónica telefonikabiin باجه تلفن puhelinkoppi cabine téléphonique תַּא טֶלֶפוֹן टेलीफोन बूथ telefonska govornica telefonfülke gardu telepon símaklefi cabina telefonica 公衆電話 공중전화 박스 telefono būdelė telefona kabīne pondok telefon telefooncel telefonkiosk/-boks budka telefoniczna cabine telefónica cabină telefonică телефонная будка telefónna búdka, al. kabínka telefonska govorilnica telefonska govornica telefonkiosk, -bås ตู้โทรศัพท์ telefon kulübesi 公用電話亭 телефон-автомат ٹيلي فون کي دکان điện thoại công cộng 公用电话亭
telephone directory
a book containing a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all the people with telephones in a particular area Look them up in the telephone directory. telefoongids دَليل التِّلفون телефонен указател telefonní seznam telefonbog das Telefonbuch τηλεφωνικός κατάλογος guía telefónica telefoniraamat دفترچه راهنمای تلفن puhelinluettelo annuaire du téléphone מַדרִיך טֶלֶפוֹן टेलीफोन पुस्तिका जिसमें फोन नम्बर छपे हो telefonski imenik telefonkönyv petunjuk telepon símaskrá elenco telefonico 電話帳 전화번호부 telefonų knyga telefona abonentu grāmata buku panduan telefon telefoongids telefonkatalog książka telefoniczna lista telefónica carte de telefon телефонный справочник telefónny zoznam telefonski imenik telefonski imenik telefonkatalog สมุดโทรศัพท์ telefon rehberi 電話號碼簿 телефонний довідник ٹيلي فون کتاب جس ميں فون نمبرات درج ہوں danh bạ điện thoại 电话号码簿
telephone exchange
a central control through which telephone calls are directed. telefoonsentrale مَقْسَم الهاتِف، بَدّالَة التِّلفون телефонен център telefonní centrála omstilling die Telefonzentrale τηλεφωνικό κέντρο central telefónica telefonikeskjaam مخابرات puhelinvaihde central téléphonique מִרכֶּזֶת טֶלֶפוֹנִים दूरभाष संचार केन्द्र telefonska centrala távbeszélő-központ pusat telepon símstöð centralino telefonico 電話交換局 전화교환국 (centrinė) telefono stotis telefona centrāle ibu sawat telefon telefooncentrale telefonsentral centrala telefoniczna central telefónica centrală telefonică телефонная станция; коммутатор telefónna centrála telefonska centrala telefonska centrala telefonväxel ชุมสายโทรศัพท์ telefon santralı 電話交換機 телефонна станція ٹيلي فون کا مرکزي دفتر tổng đài điện thoại 电话交换机
telephone → تليفون telefon telefon Telefon τηλέφωνο teléfono puhelin téléphone telefon telefono 電話 전화 telefoon telefon telefon telefone телефон telefon โทรศัพท์ telefon điện thoại 电话
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