Library / English Dictionary

TELEPHONE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (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

Example:

I talked to him on the telephone

Synonyms:

phone; telephone; telephone set

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

Synonyms:

telephone; telephony

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

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)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning

Synonyms:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Researchers are studying whether the EMFs from power lines, electrical appliances, and wireless and cellular telephones can cause cancer or other harmful health effects.

(EMF, NCI Dictionary)

EXAMPLE(S): The set of digits that serves as the address for a telephone device.

(Healthcare Facility Telecom Address, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

The sequence of numbers or characters, that when dialed, connects to a particular mobile telephone.

(Mobile Telephone Number, NCI Thesaurus)

An accessory for a telephone that is worn on the head and designed to allow handsfree conversation.

(Headset Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

A telephone number that is used for identifying a destination fax machine in a telephone network.

(Fax Number, NCI Thesaurus)

An electronic device that answers a telephone and records messages.

(Answering Machine, NCI Thesaurus)

A machine which scans and transmits via telephone, fixed graphic material including pictures, text, or images.

(Facsimile Machine, NCI Thesaurus)

Researchers are studying whether the electromagnetic fields from power lines, electrical appliances, and wireless and cellular telephones can cause cancer or other harmful health effects.

(Electromagnetic field, NCI Dictionary)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Attempt to telephone someone at a suitable time?

(DAD - Attempt to Telephone Someone at a Suitable Time, NCI Thesaurus)

It was a small, office-like room, with a huge ledger upon the table, and a telephone projecting from the wall.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)