dial

Examples

• All

• The light still pulsed, and the technician was easing a dial to secure a bearing.

  Fiction book (1994)

• This gear then turns a dial which points to the appropriate hour.

• How did you keep one dial showing the correct time?

• The dial looks to be in really good condition.

• You can see that the numbers on this dial run up to 100.

  Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984)

• The desired linear pitch is set using a control dial on the face of the drive unit.

  Academic text (2003)

• Her fingers are drawn to the tuning dial as if to a puzzle.

  Fiction book (1992)

• Operation is simple, with just two dials and two buttons to control the unit.

  Academic text (2001)

• The foreman was puzzled by some readings on the dials in the control room.

  Academic text (2005)

• Luminous dials for watches.

  Rear Window (1954)

Synonyms

C

clock face

vsdial

1 2.1

A flat surface on a clock that shows the hours and minutes with numbers and hands

is broader and applies to watches and many measuring displays

C

clock dial

vsdial

3.1

The face of a clock that shows the time with numbers and hands

is broader and applies to watches and other measuring instruments

Idioms

D

don't touch that dial

• Archaic

3 9.3

To tell viewers or listeners to keep watching and not change the channel during a break in the show

T

to touch that dial

• Archaic

1 9.1

Tell someone not to change the radio or television channel before a show returns

Compounds

D

dial-up

• Archaic

4 3.8

A connection that uses a telephone line to access the internet and is usually very slow

D

dial phone

• Archaic

1 6.8

A telephone with a round wheel you turn to enter numbers

D

dial telephone

• Archaic

1 4.9

A phone with a round dial you turn to call someone

D

dial-up

• Archaic

1 3.5

Relating to an internet connection that uses a telephone line and is usually very slow

C

clock dial

3.1

The face of a clock that shows the time with numbers and hands

P

pocket dial

4.8

A call someone makes by mistake when their phone's buttons are pressed in a pocket

T

telephone dial

• Archaic

6.4

A round disc on an old phone that you turn to choose a number

Surface Forms

Etymology