TELEPHONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does telephone mean? 

• TELEPHONE (noun)
  The noun TELEPHONE has 2 senses:

1. electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

2. transmitting speech at a distance

  Familiarity information: TELEPHONE used as a noun is rare.

• TELEPHONE (verb)
  The verb TELEPHONE has 1 sense:

1. get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

  Familiarity information: TELEPHONE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• TELEPHONE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

phone; telephone; telephone set

Context example:

I talked to him on the telephone

Hypernyms ("telephone" is a kind of...):

electronic equipment (equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor))

Meronyms (parts of "telephone"):

mouthpiece (an acoustic device; the part of a telephone into which a person speaks)

receiver; telephone receiver (earphone that converts electrical signals into sounds)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "telephone"):

desk phone (a telephone set that sits on a desk or table)

dial phone; dial telephone (a telephone with a dial for registering the number to be called)

extension; extension phone; telephone extension (an additional telephone set that is connected to the same telephone line)

French telephone; handset (telephone set with the mouthpiece and earpiece mounted on a single handle)

pay-phone; pay-station (a coin-operated telephone)

radiophone; radiotelephone; wireless telephone (a telephone that communicates by radio waves rather than along cables)

speakerphone (a telephone with a microphone and loudspeaker; can be used without picking up a handset; several people can participate in a call at the same time)

Holonyms ("telephone" is a part of...):

phone system; telephone system (a communication system that transmits sound between distant points)

Derivation:

telephone (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Transmitting speech at a distance

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

telephone; telephony

Hypernyms ("telephone" is a kind of...):

telecom; telecommunication ((often plural) systems used in transmitting messages over a distance electronically)

Domain member category:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

cell phone (call up by using a cellular phone)

call in (make a phone call)

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

hang on; hold on; hold the line (hold the phone line open)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "telephone"):

voice mail; voicemail (a computerized system for answering and routing telephone calls; telephone messages can be recorded and stored and relayed)

call; phone call; telephone call (a telephone connection)

call forwarding (lets you transfer your incoming calls to any telephone that you can dial direct)

call waiting (a way of letting you know that someone else is calling when you are using your telephone)

Derivation:

telephone (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

• TELEPHONE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they telephone    ... he / she / it telephones   
Past simple: telephoned   
Past participle: telephoned   
-ing form: telephoning   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone

Context example:

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning

Hypernyms (to "telephone" is one way to...):

telecommunicate (communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail)

"Telephone" entails doing...:

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

Verb group:

call (send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message)

Domain category:

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "telephone"):

cell phone (call up by using a cellular phone)

call in (make a phone call)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot telephone Sue
They telephone

Derivation:

telephone (electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds)

telephone (transmitting speech at a distance)

telephoner (the person initiating a telephone call)

 Context examples 

Telephone contact during which temperature, blood pressure and adverse events are reported.

(Defined Subject Activity Group, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

Can be accessed by telephone with information returned by FAX.

(CancerFax, NCI Thesaurus)

She called him up by telephone that evening to thank him.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

They looked up the transaction in their day-book and letter-book, and at once telephoned to their King's Cross office for more details.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Forgetting how to use the telephone or find your way home may be signs of a more serious problem.

(Memory, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Find and dial a telephone number correctly?

(DAD - Find and Dial a Telephone Number Correctly, NCI Thesaurus)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Write and convey a telephone message adequately?

(DAD - Write and Convey a Telephone Message Adequately, NCI Thesaurus)

Concept also refers to a return telephone or radio call, particularly when a survey is conducted; and to a recall of a recently sold product (e.g. pharmaceutical) by the manufacturer.

(Callback, NCI Thesaurus)

A data type comprised of an unordered collection of telephone numbers.

(Bag Telephone Data Type, NCI Thesaurus)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Carry out an appropriate telephone conversation?

(DAD - Carry Out an Appropriate Telephone Conversation, NCI Thesaurus)