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Glite Dictionary
phone plug

phone plug

1 3.2
A small part you push into a wall socket to connect a telephone
  • noun
  • /foʊn plʌg/
translation icon : enchufe telefónico
  • Make sure the phone plug is securely inserted into the socket before making a call.

Examples

  • Anyone see where the phone plugs are?

    Millions (2004)

  • In my classroom, I have a reasonably priced combination public address system/keyboard amplifier that takes three 1/4" phone plugs.

    Academic text (1993)

  • I need to find a working phone plug to connect my new telephone.

  • The technician repaired the damaged phone plug to restore the telephone service.

Synonyms

plug
vsphone plug
51 1.3

A device with pins that you insert into a socket to get power

is narrower and used only for connectors that link telephones to sockets
male plug
vsphone plug
  • Specialized
1 3.9

A connector with two or three metal pins that you insert into a socket to get power

is specific to telephone line connections rather than general electrical use
telephone plug
vsphone plug
2.8

A small connector that fits into a socket to connect a phone to a phone line

is the common term for the same connector used for telephones

Surface Forms

phone plug singular
phone plugs plural

Morphology

phone + plug

The meaning 'a plug used to connect a telephone or telephone line to a socket' is directly and literally derived from combining 'phone' (telephone device) with 'plug' (a connector inserted into a socket), so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer this object. This is a straightforward compositional noun phrase common across languages and not idiomatic.

Etymology

Phone plug: The name phone plug comes from the simple image of a small plug you push into a wall socket to join a phone to the telephone line. So, it means the small part that 'connects' a phone to the wall or line.