TOP

Definition of telephone noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

telephone

noun
 
 
/ˈtelɪfəʊn/
 
/ˈtelɪfəʊn/
(rather formal)
(also phone)
Idioms
jump to other results
  1.  
     [countable, uncountable] a system for talking to somebody else over long distances, using wires or radio; a machine used for this
    • The telephone rang and Pat answered it.
    • I need to make a telephone call.
    • over the telephone You can reserve seats over the telephone.
    • by telephone Can I get in touch by telephone?
    • on the telephone They talk on the telephone much more often than they meet.
    • She spoke by telephone to the French President.
    • a telephone conversation/interview
    • telephone lines/services
    Collocations PhonesPhonesMaking 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/​extension/​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 (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy
    • the phones have been (North American English) 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
    Mobile/​cell phones
    • be/​talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/​mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell
    • use/​answer/​call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • switch/​turn on/​off your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • charge/​recharge your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • a mobile/​cell phone is on/​is off/​rings/​goes off
    • (British English) top up your mobile/​cell (phone)
    • send/​receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
    • insert/​remove/​change a SIM card
    see also radio-telephone
    Extra Examples
    • All letters should include an address and a daytime telephone number.
    • Can I use your telephone?
    • Excuse me, do you have a telephone?
    • Hang on—I'll just get the telephone.
    • He was called to the telephone just as he was leaving.
    • She is in telephone contact with headquarters.
    • The charity has set up a 24-hour telephone helpline.
    • The office telephones were all out of order.
    • The telephone was ringing furiously.
    Topics Phones, email and the interneta1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • public
    • office
    • cellular
    • …
    verb + telephone
    • use
    • be on
    • have
    • …
    telephone + verb
    • ring
    telephone + noun
    • number
    • book
    • directory
    • …
    preposition
    • by telephone
    • on the telephone
    • over the telephone
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [countable] the part of the phone that you hold in your hand and speak into
    • I picked up the telephone and called some people I knew.
    • She put down the telephone and burst into tears.
    • I've been trying to phone him all day—he must have left his telephone off the hook.
    synonym handset, receiverTopics Houses and homesa1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • public
    • office
    • cellular
    • …
    verb + telephone
    • use
    • be on
    • have
    • …
    telephone + verb
    • ring
    telephone + noun
    • number
    • book
    • directory
    • …
    preposition
    • by telephone
    • on the telephone
    • over the telephone
    • …
    See full entry
Idioms
be on the telephone
  1. to be using the phone
    • He's on the telephone at the moment.
    • You're wanted (= somebody wants to speak to you) on the telephone.
    Topics Phones, email and the interneta2
  2. (British English, old-fashioned) to have a phone in your home or place of work
    • We were not on the telephone at the cottage.
    This expression became old-fashioned when mobile phones came into use. These days we would say: ‘We don't have a landline at the cottage.’Topics Phones, email and the internetc2
See telephone in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee telephone in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: telephone

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day