telegraph

noun tele·graph \ ˈte-lə-ˌgraf \

|Updated on: 25 Jun 2018

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

See telegraph defined for English-language learners

See telegraph defined for kids

Examples of telegraph in a Sentence

I sent the message by telegraph.

Recent Examples of telegraph from the Web

On the captain’s fly bridge, naval maps flutter in spring breeze and the engine order telegraph is pointing at idle.

— Washington Post, "Ex-Yugo autocratic leader’s iconic yacht given new life," 23 May 2018
Or maybe not: The first manufactured devices actually used a couple of telegraph keys for the callers to tap out the numbers.

— darryl levings, kansascity, "Kansas City has been dialed in to telephone innovations from the very beginning," 2 June 2018
By late in the century, however, railroads and the telegraph had created a unified national market, rendering these laws unduly restrictive even as special interests fought to keep them on the books.

— john steele gordon, WSJ, "Regulators Take On Silicon Valley, as They Did Earlier Innovators," 17 Apr. 2018
Over the course of the first five episodes of season 2, that’s meant weekly updates that expand on, and even telegraph, some of the show’s narrative revelations.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Westworld’s digital marketing is giving fans sneak peeks at the show’s biggest secrets," 24 May 2018
His historical tour is pretty loosey goosey, skipping over, for example, the Enlightenment, the scientific and industrial revolutions, the rise of democracy, and, yes, the impact of technology on communication from the telegraph until today.

— gal beckerman, The New Republic, "Don’t Blame Phones for Narcissism," 7 May 2018
John Heath In 1884, a mob took John Heath out of a Tombstone jail and strung him up from a telegraph pole.

— roger naylor, azcentral, "Famous graves in Arizona: Big Nose Kate, Cochise and other notables," 27 Apr. 2018
The telegraph wires burst into flame and caused forest fires all over the world.

— Fox News, "What threats face America's electrical grid?," 23 Apr. 2018
The insulator has been used for more than 150 years, first with the invention of the telegraph and then with the development of the telephone and electrical industries.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Enfield Edition," 3 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'telegraph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of telegraph

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

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First Known Use: 1793

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

telegraph

verb

Definition of telegraph

telegraphed; telegraphing; telegraphs

transitive verb

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

—

telegrapher

play \tə-ˈle-grə-fər\ noun

—

telegraphist

play \tə-ˈle-grə-fist\ noun

See telegraph defined for English-language learners

Examples of telegraph in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of telegraph from the Web

But secretly, the hire was intended to telegraph to the underworld that Moscatiello’s new boss, Adam Kidan, was protected by the Gambino crime family, according to trial testimony.

— rafael olmeda, Sun-Sentinel.com, "New trial ordered for convicted killer in Gus Boulis murder," 7 June 2018
But his day of reckoning in court had long been telegraphed.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "Alternative-school chief with ties to Fattah Jr. guilty of embezzling $800K in Philly school funds," 8 May 2018
Where Mr Macron telegraphs his plans early, loudly and clearly, Mrs Merkel is reactive and inscrutable.

— The Economist, "France's plans for euro-zone reform get a lukewarm German response," 9 June 2018
Some Eagles players, namely safety Malcolm Jenkins and defensive end Chris Long, had long telegraphed their plans to skip the meeting with Trump and instead do charitable work around D.C. — activities that have also been removed from the schedule.

— nate davis, USA TODAY, "Philadelphia Eagles decide to return to practice after President Trump cancels White House visit," 5 June 2018
Appaloosa and Senator Investment Group LP had previously telegraphed those desires to Allergan, but are turning the screws on the company by making their demands public.

— aisha al-muslim, WSJ, "Investors Push Allergan for Management Changes, After ‘Half-Hearted’ Strategic Review," 5 June 2018
Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz earlier this month telegraphed the change while speaking at an event hosted by think tank the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC.

— emily stewart, Vox, "Starbucks says everyone’s a customer after Philadelphia bias incident," 19 May 2018
Moves by either side, or Washington, were telegraphed far in advance on front pages and endlessly debated on editorial pages.

— heather hurlburt, Daily Intelligencer, "‘Status Quo Minus’ in Israel and Palestine," 14 May 2018
The decision, while long anticipated and widely telegraphed, leaves the 2015 agreement reached by seven countries after more than two years of grueling negotiations in tatters.

— mark landler, New York Times, "Trump Withdraws U.S. From ‘One-Sided’ Iran Nuclear Deal," 8 May 2018

First Known Use of telegraph

1806

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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TELEGRAPH Defined for English Language Learners

telegraph

noun

Definition of telegraph for English Language Learners

: an old-fashioned system of sending messages over long distances by using wires and electrical signals
: a device used for sending or receiving messages by telegraph

telegraph

verb

Definition of telegraph for English Language Learners

: to send (a message) by telegraph
: to send a telegram to (someone)
: to make (something that you are about to do or say) obvious or apparent by the way you move, look, etc.