phone

noun (1)

Save Word

\ 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

plural -phones

Definition of -phone (Entry 4 of 5)

1 : sound-transmitting device microphone radiophone

2 : musical instrument xylophone

3 : speech sound homophone : symbol representing a speech sound polyphone

4 : 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,
ring (up)
[chiefly British],
telephone

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

History and Etymology for phone

Noun (1)

by shortening

Verb

derivative of phone entry 1

Noun (2)

borrowed from Greek phōnḗ "voice, speech" — more at phono-

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -phōnos "having a sound (of the kind or number specified)," derivative of phōnḗ "sound made by something living, voice, speech, utterance"; (sense 4) borrowed from French, borrowed from Greek -phōnos — more at phono-

Adjective combining form

borrowed from French — more at -phone entry 1

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Dictionary Entries Near phone

phonal

phonate

phonautograph

phone

-phone

phone book

phone booth

Statistics for phone

Last Updated

18 May 2021

Cite this Entry

“Phone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phone. Accessed 24 Jun. 2021.

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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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phone

Definition of phone

Synonyms for phone

Examples of phone in a Sentence

First Known Use of phone

History and Etymology for phone

Learn More About phone

Dictionary Entries Near phone

Statistics for phone

English Language Learners Definition of phone

Kids Definition of phone

WORD OF THE DAY

forswear

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phone

Definition of phone

Synonyms for phone

Examples of phone in a Sentence

First Known Use of phone

History and Etymology for phone

Learn More About phone

The first known use of phone was circa 1866

'Whole Milk', 'British English', and 16 More Retronyms

Phubbing

Dictionary Entries Near phone

Phrases Related to phone

Statistics for phone

English Language Learners Definition of phone

Kids Definition of phone

WORD OF THE DAY

forswear

Test Your Vocabulary