dial
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
Its original meaning was 'sundial' and/or 'clock dial', from Latin diālis (“daily, concerning the day”), because of its use in telling the time of day.
[edit] Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aɪəl
[edit] Noun
dial (plural dials)
- A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
- A clock face.
- A sundial.
- A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.
- A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.
- (UK) (old-fashioned) A person's face.
- 1960: At the sound of the old familiar voice he spun around with something of the agility of a cat on hot bricks, and I saw that his dial, usually cheerful, was contorted with anguish, as if he had swallowed a bad oyster. (P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter IX)
[edit] Translations
graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves
clock face
sundial
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disk with finger holes on a telephone
[edit] Verb
dial (third-person singular simple present dials, present participle dialing or dialling, simple past and past participle dialed or dialled)
- (transitive) To measure or indicate something with a dial.
- (transitive) To control or select something with a dial
- (transitive) To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone.
- (intransitive) To use a dial or a telephone.
[edit] Translations
[edit] Usage notes
- Dialing and dialed are more common in the US. Dialling and dialled are more common in the UK.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Welsh
[edit] Noun
dial
