WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025tel•e•phone /ˈtɛləˌfoʊn/USA pronunciation
n., v., -phoned, -phon•ing. n.
- TelecommunicationsAlso called phone. a device, system, or process for sending sound or speech to a distant point, esp. by an electric device: [countable]There were no telephones on the highway.[uncountable* often: by + ~]See if we can reach him by telephone.
v.
- Telecommunicationsto send (a message) by telephone to (someone);
phone: [~ + object]They telephoned her with the news.[~ + object + object]They telephoned her the message.[~ + that clause]She telephoned that there had been an accident.[no object]They telephoned ahead with the news.
tel•e•phon•er, n. [countable]See -phon-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025tel•e•phone
(tel′ə fōn′),USA pronunciation n., v., -phoned, -phon•ing. n.
- Telecommunicationsan apparatus, system, or process for transmission of sound or speech to a distant point, esp. by an electric device.
v.t.
- Telecommunicationsto speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
- Telecommunicationsto send (a message) by telephone.
v.i.
- Telecommunicationsto send a message by telephone.
Also, phone.
tel′e•phon′er, n.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
telephone / ˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn/ - an electrical device for transmitting speech to a distant person
- a worldwide system of communications using telephones. The microphone in one telephone converts sound waves into electrical signals that are transmitted along a telephone wire or by radio to one or more distant sets, the receivers of which reconvert the incoming signal into the original sound
- (as modifier): a telephone exchange, a telephone call
- See telephone box
- to call or talk to (a person) by telephone
- to transmit (a recorded message, radio or television programme, or other information) by telephone, using special transmitting and receiving equipment
ˈteleˌphonertelephonic / ˌtɛlɪˈfɒnɪk/
'on the telephone' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):