telephone

play

noun, often attributive tele·phone \ ˈte-lə-ˌfōn \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of telephone

:an instrument for reproducing sounds at a distance; specifically :one in which sound is converted into electrical impulses for transmission (as by wire or radio waves)

See telephone defined for English-language learners

See telephone defined for kids

Examples of telephone in a Sentence

I just have to make a quick telephone call before we leave.
You can order the cake over the telephone.
The telephone has been ringing all morning!
She picked up the telephone and dialed the number.
He slammed down the telephone.
They hired someone to answer the telephones.
All our telephones are cordless.
I left the telephone off the hook.

Recent Examples of telephone from the Web

Trump spent most of the weekend at the presidential retreat at Camp David, Maryland, and convened his Cabinet by telephone during the weekend.

— hope yen and ken thomas, chicagotribune.com, "Trump prepares to travel to Texas as state copes with Harvey," 28 Aug. 2017
Fire ants also have a habit of trying to build colonies or tunnels inside transformer boxes, telephone boxes, or other electrical equipment.

— dennis pillion | dpillion@al.com, AL.com, "Fire ants are hard to control, even with decapitating flies on the job," 20 Aug. 2017
El Pais, the Spanish newspaper, reported in June that more than 1,000 people were on the radar of Spanish police, 259 people were being investigated, and 500 telephones were being tapped in dozens of anti-terrorism investigations across the country.

— krishnadev calamur, The Atlantic, "How Did Spain Avoid Terrorism Before Barcelona?," 19 Aug. 2017
Answering machines replaced thousands of telephone operators across the country.

— milton ezrati, National Review, "Globalization Can Be Good for American Workers," 7 Aug. 2017
It was estimated that while the lightning was running wild and finding telephone and electric wires as targets to shoot at, a four-inch rain fell in a short time.

— kitty conley, Post-Tribune, "Lake County Star Newspaper Almanac," 31 July 2017
The researchers also completed extensive, standardized telephone interviews with family members of the dead men.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Ninety-nine percent of ailing NFL player brains show hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease, autopsy study finds," 25 July 2017
Little girls need to see they, too, can operate that time-shifting telephone booth.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "Merriam-Webster Tweeted the Best Response to People Mad About the Female 'Doctor Who'," 18 July 2017
Homeowners who prefer to complete the survey at home can complete the survey online at restore.la.gov or by telephone from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday at 866.

— carol wolfram, NOLA.com, "Restore Louisiana outreach events set in Slidell, Bogalusa," 17 July 2017

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

First Known Use of telephone

1832

Other Telecommunications Terms

Ethernet, intercept

telephone

verb

Definition of telephone

telephoned; telephoning

transitive verb

1 :to speak to or attempt to reach by telephone

2 :to send by telephone

intransitive verb

:to communicate by telephone

—

telephoner

noun

See telephone defined for English-language learners

Examples of telephone in a Sentence

He telephoned me to say that he was going to be late.
He telephoned to say that he was going to be late.
You never write or telephone.

Recent Examples of telephone from the Web

On one occasion, an agent telephoned Clyne and asked to purchase two handguns.

— ruth brown, idahostatesman, "Man’s illegal gun sales led to firearms in felons’ hands, at murder scene," 15 Aug. 2017
Girardin telephoned his boss, Mayor Jerome Cavanagh, considered the most progressive mayor in big-city America, an Irish-Catholic New Deal Democrat who had made improving race relations a key part of his agenda.

— bill mcgraw, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit '67: 'We've got trouble' — Routine police raid ignites 5 days of rioting," 22 July 2017
Two of the combatants, one a Republican, the other a Democrat, telephoned him from a bar.

— The Economist, "Arnie lends some muscle to the campaign against gerrymandering," 22 July 2017
Apparently in an effort to calm the atmosphere, Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, telephoned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and strongly condemned the attack.

— isabel kershner, Alaska Dispatch News, "2 Israeli police officers killed in attack in Old City of Jerusalem," 14 July 2017
Walsh was roused from his brief disappointment when the gossip columnist Louella Parsons telephoned him to learn more about the film project.

— richard sandomir, SI.com, "How Gary Cooper, Pride of the Yankees film became the accepted reality of Lou Gehrig's life," 21 June 2017
Edwards, his lawyer in the case and a public relations representative for Marketing Solution Publications did not respond to telephoned and emailed requests for comment.

— alejandro lópez, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Fort Lauderdale Strikers' key assets sold for $5,100 at public auction," 20 June 2017
Those who do not have internet access can obtain the same information by telephoning 211.

— dale kasler, tony bizjak and bill lindelof, sacbee.com, "It’s really hot. What you need to know about staying cool – and saving electricity," 19 June 2017
McMonagle pointed out that Constand telephoned Cosby dozens of times after the alleged assault.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Mistrial declared; Bill Cosby jury deadlocked on verdict," 17 June 2017

First Known Use of telephone

1877

telephone Synonyms

Synonyms

dial, phone, ring (up) [chiefly British], call

Related Words

beep, buzz; call in; cold-call

Other Telecommunications Terms

Ethernet, intercept

TELEPHONE Defined for English Language Learners

telephone

play

noun

Definition of telephone for English Language Learners

: a system that uses wires and radio signals to send sounds (such as people's voices) over long distances
: a device that is connected to a telephone system and that you use to listen or speak to someone who is somewhere else