emergency number
4
1.1
- noun
- /ɪˈmɜrdʒənsi ˈnʌmbər/
:
número de emergencia
- Use the emergency number!
- dial the emergency number
- call the emergency number
- 911 emergency number
Examples
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I dialed the police emergency number, but it was busy.
Fiction book (1992) -
I called the emergency number and got an assistant.
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-Take it easy, and you have my emergency number if you need it.
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But you said there were three emergency numbers.
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-Somebody call the emergency number.
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This is an emergency number.
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I have an emergency number.
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You have reached the Los Angeles Police Department emergency number.
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- You have reached the emergency number 9-1-1.
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In case of a fire, remember to call your emergency number right away.
Synonyms
1
3.4
A number to call for police, fire, or an ambulance in an emergency
How Urgent
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'emergency' (a sudden incident needing immediate action) modifying 'number' (a numeric identifier), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the telephone number to call for help in emergencies. This noun+noun modifier pattern is common in English and across other languages, making the expression readily transparent.
Etymology
Emergency number comes from the idea of one simple number you can call when there is an emergency. This single number was made so people could quickly reach police, fire, or ambulance, so today it means 'the phone number to call for urgent help'.