call

²call

noun

Definition of CALL

1

a : an act of calling with the voice : shout b : an imitation of the cry of a bird or other animal made to attract it c : an instrument used for calling <a duck call> d : the cry of an animal (as a bird)

2

a : a request or command to come or assemble b : a summons or signal on a drum, bugle, or pipe c : admission to the bar as a barrister d : an invitation to become the minister of a church or to accept a professional appointment e : a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action f : a summoning of actors to rehearsal <the call is for 11 o'clock> g : the attraction or appeal of a particular activity, condition, or place <the call of the wild> h : an order specifying the number of men to be inducted into the armed services during a specified period i : the selection of a play in football

3

a : demand, claim b : need, justification <there's no call for such behavior> c : a demand for payment of money d : an option to buy a specified amount of a security (as stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time — compare put 2 e : an instance of asking for something : request <many calls for Christmas stories>

4

: roll call

5

: a short usually formal visit

6

: the name or thing called <the call was heads>

7

: the act of calling in a card game

8

: the act of calling on the telephone

9

: a direction or a succession of directions for a square dance rhythmically called to the dancers

10

: a decision or ruling made by an official of a sports contest; also : decision 1 <a tough call to make>

11

: a temporary transfer of control of computer processing to a particular set of instructions (as a subroutine or procedure)

— at call or on call

1

a : available for use : at the service of <thousands of men at his call>

b : ready to respond to a summons or command <a doctor on call>

2

: subject to demand for payment or return without previous notice <money lent at call>

— within call

: within hearing or reach of a summons : subject to summons

Examples of CALL

1. A local call costs less than a long-distance or an international call.
2. If there are any calls for me during the meeting, say that I'll call back later.
3. I got a call from my brother last night.
4. He gave a call to passersby for help.
5. We heard a bird that had a very loud and unusual call.
6. He's an expert at doing bird calls.
7. He has a large collection of duck calls.
8. the call of a trumpet
9. The government has issued a call to its supporters to defend it and hopes they will answer its call.
10. The campaigners renewed their calls for reform.

First Known Use of CALL

14th century

Related to CALL

Synonyms: cry, note

Related Words: bark, bay, bellow, blat, bleat, bray, cackle, calling, caterwaul, caw, cheep, chirp, cluck, coo, crake, croak, crow, grunt, honk, hoot, howl, low, meow (also miaow), mew, moo, neigh, oink, peep, quack, roar, screech, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, trumpet, tu-whit tu-whoo, twitter, whinny, yap, yelp, yip, yowl

Near Antonyms: answer, reply, response

see all synonyms and antonyms

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