phone
noun (PHONE) /fəʊn/
/foʊn/ Definition
A1 [C or U] (formal telephone) a device that uses either a system of wires, along which electrical signals are sent, or a system of radio signals to make it possible for you to speak to someone in another place who has a similar device: Just then, his phone rang. Could you answer the phone? We speak on the/by phone about twice a week. You had three phone calls this morning. If the phone lines are busy, please try again later. Could you pick the phone up for me - my hands are wet. I left the phone off the hook, so it wouldn't ring. I was so angry I just put/slammed the phone down (on her) (= replaced it before our conversation was finished).Telephone equipment be on the phone › to be using the phone: That son of mine is on the phone all day!Communicating by telephone › UK to have a landline (= fixed phone) in the home: Are the Middletons on the phone, do you know?Communicating by telephone
(Definition of phone noun (PHONE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse related topics
You are looking at an entry to do with Communications - by telephone, but you might be interested in these topics from the Technology topic area:
- Amplifiers, microphones & speakers
- Audio & video equipment
- Communications - general words
- Communications - messaging
- Communications - telephone equipment
- Communications - the postal system
- Computer concepts
- Computer hardware
- Computer programming & software
- Electrical components & circuitry
- Electrical switches & connections
- Electricity & electronics
- Electricity - units
- Engineering - mechanical
- Engineering - mining & quarrying
- Internet terminology
- Internet, email and texting conventions
- Machines - Engines & motors
- Machines - Functioning
- Machines - general words
- Machines - generators & pumps
- Machines - not functioning
- Machines - parts
- Operating computers
- Recording sounds and images
- Sound and image recordings
Browse the Thesaurus
More Results for “phone”
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- 0800 number noun
- 800 number noun
- caller ID noun
- collect adjective, adverb
- dialling tone noun
- Directory Enquiries noun
- drunk-dial verb
- Freefone noun
- get through phrasal verb
- GSM noun
- hands-free adjective
- hang up phrasal verb
- operator noun
- ring off phrasal verb
- ringtone noun
- screen verb (EXAMINE)
- telecoms noun
- toll-free adjective
- tone noun (PHONE NOISE)
- voicemail noun
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Word of the Day
be under a cloud
to not be trusted or popular because people think you have done something bad
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
