TOP

Definition of dial verb from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

 

dial

 verb
verb
NAmE//ˈdaɪəl//
 
, NAmE//daɪl//
 
[transitive, intransitive] dial (something)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they dial
 
 he / she / it dials
 
 past simple dialed (Canadian English usually)dialled
 
 -ing form dialing (Canadian English usually)dialling
 
 
jump to other results
to use a telephone by pushing buttons or turning the dial to call a number He dialed the number and waited. Dial 212 for Manhattan. Topic CollocationsPhonesmaking and receiving phone calls
  • the phone/telephone rings
  • answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone
  • lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver
  • dial a phone number/an extension number/a wrong number/an area code
  • call somebody/talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office
  • make/get/receive a phone call
  • take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
  • the line is busy
  • the phones have been ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
  • put somebody through/get through to the person you want to speak to
  • put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
  • call from/use a landline
cell phones
  • be/talk on a cell phone/ (informal) cell
  • use/answer/call (somebody on)/get a message on your cell phone/cell
  • switch/turn on/off your cell phone/cell
  • charge/recharge your cell phone/cell
  • a cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off/is on vibrate/is on silent/is in silent mode
  • send/receive a text (message)/a picture message
  • insert/remove/change a SIM card
See dial in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: dial

Nearby words