telegraph

UK: /ˈtɛligrɑːf/ US: /ˈtɛlɪˌgræf/ ,(tel′i graf′, -gräf′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tel•e•graph /ˈtɛlɪˌgræf/   n. [uncountable]

1. Telecommunications a system or a device for sending messages to a distant place, esp. by electric signals between two devices connected by a conducting wire:
   sent by telegraph.

v. 

2. Telecommunications to send or transmit (a message) by telegraph to (someone): [~ + object]
   They telegraphed a message to her.
   [~ + object + object]
   They telegraphed her the message.
   [~ + that clause]
   They telegraphed that the next train was carrying the gold.
   [no object]
   They telegraphed ahead with the news.
3. Informal Terms to let someone else see (one's intentions, etc.), but without knowing one has done so:
   [~ + object] The boxer telegraphed his left hook by dipping his arm just before aiming it.

te•leg•ra•pher /təˈlɛgrəfɚ/ ;[esp. Brit.,] te•leg•ra•phist, /təˈlɛgrəfɪst/  n. [countable] See -graph-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tel•e•graph  (tel′i graf′, -gräf′), n. 

1. Telecommunications an apparatus, system, or process for transmitting messages or signals to a distant place, esp. by means of an electric device consisting essentially of a sending instrument and a distant receiving instrument connected by a conducting wire or other communications channel.
2. Nautical, Naval Terms an apparatus, usually mechanical, for transmitting and receiving orders between the bridge of a ship and the engine room or some other part of the engineering department.
3. Telecommunications a telegraphic message.

v.t. 

4. Telecommunications to transmit or send (a message) by telegraph.
5. Telecommunications to send a message to (a person) by telegraph.
6. Informal Terms to divulge or indicate unwittingly (one's intention, next offensive move, etc.), as to an opponent or to an audience; broadcast:
   The fighter telegraphed his punch and his opponent was able to parry it. If you act nervous too early in the scene, you'll telegraph the character's guilt.

v.i. 

7. Telecommunications to send a message by telegraph.

• French télégraphe (1792) a kind of manual signaling device; see tele-¹, -graph

te•leg•ra•pher  (tə leg′rə fər)*  [esp. Brit.,] te•leg′ra•phist, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

telegraph / ˈtɛlɪˌɡræf -ˌɡrɑːf/ noun

1. a device, system, or process by which information can be transmitted over a distance, esp using radio signals or coded electrical signals sent along a transmission line connected to a transmitting and a receiving instrument
2. (as modifier): telegraph pole

verb

1. to send a telegram to (a person or place); wire
2. (transitive) to transmit or send by telegraph
3. (transitive) to give advance notice of (anything), esp unintentionally
4. (transitive) to cast (votes) illegally by impersonating registered voters

telegraphist / tɪˈlɛɡrəfɪst/, teˈlegrapher noun