dial telephone
1
4.9
- noun
- /ˈdaɪəl ˈtɛlɪˌfoʊn/
- Archaic
:
teléfono de disco
- a rotary dial telephone
Examples
-
Lucky I've still got a dial telephone.
Fiction book (1998) -
This system was replaced in 1974 with a dial telephone polling system that checked the status of pump and treatment stations every 90 minutes.
Academic text (1996) -
I could have done better than ORCA with nothing more than thorough training of volunteers, paper and pencils, and dial telephones.
Blog text (28) -
In the 1960s, many households still relied on a dial telephone to make calls.
-
She found an old dial telephone in the attic that still worked perfectly.
-
The vintage dial telephone on the table caught everyone's attention during the party.
Synonyms
1
6.8
A telephone with a round wheel you turn to enter numbers
How Old-Fashioned
109
5.6
- Archaic
1
4.9
4
1.9
58
1.0
227
1.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'dial telephone' is compositionally transparent: 'dial' (to enter numbers/call) modifies 'telephone' to indicate a phone you operate by dialing (rotary or keypad). This follows a standard modifier+noun pattern and a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended device.
Etymology
Dial telephone is named for the round disk you turn on old phones to choose numbers. The dial was turned to 'make a call', so the name now means a phone with a round wheel you turn to call someone.