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phone

noun (1)
\ˈfōn \

Definition of phone 

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : telephone

2 : earphone

phone

verb
phoned; phoning

Definition of phone (Entry 2 of 5)

: telephone

phone

noun (2)

Definition of phone (Entry 3 of 5)

: a speech sound considered as a physical event without regard to its place in the sound system of a language

-phone

noun combining form

Definition of -phone (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : sound homophone —often in names of musical instruments and sound-transmitting devices radiophonexylophone

2 : speaker of (a specified language) Francophone

-phone

adjective combining form

Definition of -phone (Entry 5 of 5)

: of or relating to a population that speaks (a specified language) Francophone

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about phone

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Synonyms for phone

Synonyms: Verb

call, dial, telephone

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Examples of phone in a Sentence

Verb

 Someone from the newspaper will be phoning with a few questions. she phoned her friend to invite her over for dinner

First Known Use of phone

Noun (1)

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1885, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1866, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for phone

Noun (1)

by shortening

Noun (2)

Greek phōnē

Noun combining form

Greek -phōnos sounding, from phōnē

Adjective combining form

French, from Greek -phōnos

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Dictionary Entries near phone

phonal

phonate

phonautograph

phone

-phone

phone book

phone booth

Statistics for phone

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Time Traveler for phone

The first known use of phone was circa 1866

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More Definitions for phone

phone

verb

English Language Learners Definition of phone

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to speak or try to speak to (someone) over a telephone system

-phone

noun combining form

English Language Learners Definition of -phone (Entry 2 of 2)

: sound

: a speaker of a specified language

See the full definition for -phone in the English Language Learners Dictionary

phone

noun
\ˈfōn \

Kids Definition of phone

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: telephone entry 1

phone

verb
phoned; phoning

Kids Definition of phone (Entry 2 of 2)

: telephone entry 2

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More from Merriam-Webster on phone

See words that rhyme with phone

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for phone

Spanish Central: Translation of phone

Nglish: Translation of phone for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of phone for Arabic Speakers

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