Link Centre Dictionary

dial

UK/ˈdaɪ.əl/ US/ˈdaɪ.əɫ/ common slang uk
verb (2) noun (4)

verb

1.

operate a dial to select a telephone number

  • “You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial”
2.

choose by means of a dial

  • “dial a telephone number”

noun

1.

the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours

2.

the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning

3.
4.

a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called

Synonyms

Origin

The original meaning was 'sundial' and/or 'clock dial'; from Middle English diall, from Middle French dyal, from Latin diālis (“daily, concerning the day”), because of its use in telling the time of day, from Latin diēs (“day”). Compare Spanish dial and día (“day”).

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.