telegraph

¹tele·graph

noun \-ˌgraf\

Definition of TELEGRAPH

1

: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals; especially : an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire

2

: telegram

Examples of TELEGRAPH

1. I sent the message by telegraph.

Origin of TELEGRAPH

French télégraphe, from télé- tele- (from Greek tēle-) + -graphe -graph

First Known Use: 1794

Rhymes with TELEGRAPH

allograph, autograph, barograph, bathyscaphe, cenotaph, chronograph, circle graph, cryptograph, epigraph, epitaph, half-and-half, hectograph, holograph, homograph, hygrograph, kymograph, lithograph, logograph, micrograph, monograph, pantograph, paragraph, phonograph, photograph, pictograph, polygraph, quarterstaff, seismograph, serigraph, shadowgraph, shandygaff, spectrograph, sphygmograph, thermograph, typograph

²telegraph

transitive verb

Definition of TELEGRAPH

1

a : to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph

b : to send a telegram to

c : to send by means of a telegraphic order

2

: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance

— te·leg·ra·pher \tə-ˈle-grə-fər\ noun

— te·leg·ra·phist \-fist\ noun

Examples of TELEGRAPH

1. He telegraphed a message to her.
2. Please telegraph when you get there.
3. Please telegraph me when you get there.
4. The look on her face telegraphed bad news.
5. He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.

First Known Use of TELEGRAPH

1805

telegraph

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Electromagnetic communication device. In 1832 Samuel F.B. Morse made sketches of ideas for a system of electric telegraphy, and in 1835 he developed a code to represent letters and numbers (Morse code). In 1837 he was granted a patent on an electromagnetic telegraph that transmitted signals along a wire. That same year British inventors patented a telegraph system that activated five needle pointers that could be made to point to specific letters and numbers on their mounting plate. Public use of Morse's telegraph system began in 1844 and lasted more than 100 years. By the late 20th century the telegraph had been replaced in most applications in developed countries by digital data transmission systems based on computer technology. See also Western Union Corp.