- 1[countable] (also phone call) the act of speaking to someone on the telephone to get/have/receive a call from someone to give somebody/to make a call Were there any calls for me while I was out? I'll take (= answer) the call upstairs. I left a message but he didn't return my call. a local call a long-distance call 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
- 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
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loud sound - 2[countable] a loud sound made by a bird or an animal, or by a person to attract attention the distinctive call of the bluejay a call for help
- 3[countable] call (for something) a request, an order, or a demand for someone to do something or to go somewhere calls for the senator to resign calls for national unity This is the last call for passengers traveling on U.S. Airways flight 199 to Chicago. (formal) a call to arms (= a strong request to fight in the army, etc.) see curtain call
- 4[uncountable] no call for something no call (for somebody) to do something no demand for something; no reason for someone's behavior There isn't a lot of call for videotapes nowadays. There was no call for him to be so rude. of a place
- 5[singular] call (of something) (literary) a strong feeling of attraction that a particular place has for you the call of the sea/your homeland to a particular job
- 6[singular] call (to do something) a strong feeling that you want to do something, especially a particular job He felt the call of the priesthood early on in his life. see calling decision
- 7[countable] (informal) a decision It's your call! a good/bad call That's a tough call.
- 8[countable] a decision made by the umpire or referee There was a disputed call in the second set. visit
- 9[countable] (old-fashioned) a short visit to someone to pay a call on an old friend see house call Idioms
on telephone
always ready to obey someone's orders She is constantly at the beck and call of her invalid father. Don't expect to have me at your beck and call.
the need to go to the bathroom
a situation in which you only just manage to avoid an accident, etc.
(of a doctor, police officer, etc.) available for work if necessary, especially in an emergency I'll be on call the night of the party. The doctor had been on call for 48 hours and was exhausted. see on-call
Check pronunciation: call