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Glite Dictionary
☎️ A phone device ☎️ To call
to telephone

to telephone

20 1.0
To call someone to speak with them
  • verb
  • /ˈtɛlɪˌfoʊn/
translation icon : llamar (por teléfono)
  • I just tried to telephone you.

Examples

  • I'd telephone him right away if I were you.

    Black Rainbow (1989)

  • Please telephone the office during business hours for assistance.

  • Individuals can also telephone their local health department directly to file a report.

    Academic text (2006)

  • I'll telephone in a few days in case there are questions.

    Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)

  • I'm going to telephone your Aunt Sally today.

    The Vampire (1957)

  • If you'd like to leave your number, we can telephone you as soon as we know something.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • If you'll excuse me, I'd better telephone the police.

    Payday (1973)

  • The Californian was good enough to telephone our crew chief's wife to relay the change in plans.

    Academic text (1993)

  • During this period, Mishu was living in southern Cameroon and often tried to telephone her sister in Germany.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Jiang Zemin was among the first to telephone President Bush to offer support after September 11, 2001.

    Academic text (2002)

Synonyms

to call
vsto telephone
∞ 1.0

To phone someone to speak with them

is limited to communicating by a voice line rather than other electronic ways
to ring
vsto telephone
  • UK
294 1.0

To call someone on the phone

is the broader act of communicating or attempting that way
to call up
vsto telephone
209 2.5

To phone someone

is the same act but framed as general communication rather than direct contact
to phone
vsto telephone
204 1.0

To call someone by telephone

is about communicating or trying to communicate using that same voice link
to make a call
vsto telephone
93 1.0

To phone someone

is the general action of communicating rather than only initiating contact

Compounds

telephone call
57 1.0

A time when you speak with someone by phone

telephone number
50 1.0

A set of numbers people use to call someone by phone

telephone company
19 1.2

A company that gives phone and internet services to homes and businesses

telephone pole
17 2.0

A tall wooden or concrete post that holds telephone wires above the ground

telephone conversation
14 1.7

A talk between two or more people using a phone

telephone interview
13 2.5

Someone asks you questions by phone instead of in person

telephone line
13 1.8

A wire that carries voices so people can call each other

telephone service
8 1.9

A system that lets people make and receive phone calls

cellular telephone
  • US
7 3.0

A small phone you carry to make calls and send messages from many places

telephone book
  • Archaic
5 1.0

A book that lists names, addresses and phone numbers of people and businesses

telephone booth
  • Archaic
4 2.3

A small enclosed space in a public place with a phone for people to use

telephone wire
4 2.4

A thin metal line that carries phone calls

telephone system
4 2.7

A way to let people talk to each other using phones when far apart

telephone bill
3 1.2

A paper or online statement that shows how much you owe for phone service

telephone message
3 1.1

A spoken message left on a phone when the person cannot answer

telephone directory
3 2.0

A book or website with a list of names in order and phone numbers

telephone operator
2 2.2

A person who connects phone calls to the right person or service

telephone box
  • Archaic
1 3.0

A small box on a street that holds a public phone

telephone cord
1 1.6

A flexible wire that connects the phone handset to its base or wall

telephone exchange
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A place with machines that connects telephone calls for many people

telephone receiver
1 2.0

A part of a phone that you hold to your ear and mouth to listen and speak

dial telephone
  • Archaic
1 4.9

A phone with a round dial you turn to call someone

telephone order
1 1.9

An order for goods or services made by phone

wireless telephone
1 3.3

A phone that uses radio signals so you can move while talking

telephone extension
1 3.0

An extra phone connected to the same line for use in another room

French telephone
  • Archaic
7.7

A telephone that has the mouthpiece and earpiece on one handle

telephone circuit
  • Specialized
4.0

A connection that carries voice calls between two places

telephone bell
  • Archaic
2.1

A small electric bell that rings to tell someone about an incoming phone call

telephone dial
  • Archaic
6.4

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

telephone plug
2.8

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

telephone jack
3.4

A small wall socket where you plug a phone to connect to the phone line

telephone kiosk
  • Archaic
4.4

A small booth with a telephone that people use

telephone set
1.5

A device for making and receiving phone calls

telephone tag
  • Informal
4.2

A situation when people keep missing each other's phone calls and leave messages

telephone unit
  • Specialized
4.9

A measure of phone time used to charge you, usually one minute

white-telephone comedy
9.9

A light, elegant Italian film from the 1930s and 1940s about rich people's romantic and funny lives

white-telephone farce
9.9

A light, silly comedy set among rich people that often includes white telephones as a sign of luxury

white-telephone play
  • Archaic
9.9

A stage play that shows rich people's dramatic, emotional lives

white telephone
8.2

A telephone that gives a direct line to top officials or advisers

How Direct

to telephone
20 1.0
voicemail
127 2.7
to text
  • Texting
296 2.6
email
  • Texting
724 1.0

Surface Forms

telephone infinitive
telephoned past
telephoned past participle
telephoning present participle
telephones third person singular

Etymology

To telephone someone comes from the same parts tele- ('far') and -phone ('sound'). So to telephone someone is to 'make sound from far', which is why it means to call or speak to them at a distance.