tell
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Etymology 1
[edit] Verb
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Infinitive |
Third person singular |
Simple past |
Past participle |
Present participle |
to tell (third-person singular simple present tells, present participle telling, simple past and past participle told)
- (transitive) To narrate.
- I want to tell a story.
- I want to tell you a story.
- (transitive) To convey by speech.
- Finally, someone told him the truth.
- He seems to like to tell lies.
- (transitive) To instruct or inform.
- Please tell me the time.
- (transitive) To order; to direct.
- Tell him to go away.
- (transitive) To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.
- Can you tell whether those flowers are real or silk, from this distance?
- No, there's no way to tell.
- (archaic) To count or enumerate (see teller)
[edit] Synonyms
[edit] Antonyms
- (to instruct or inform): ask
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Translations
narrate — see narrate
to pass information
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to instruct
to discern, notice, identify or distinguish
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Translations to be checked
[edit] Etymology 2
From the verb tell
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
tell (plural tells)
- (poker) A giveaway sign, especially one used in the game of poker.
[edit] Etymology 3
From Arabic تل (tall), “‘hill, elevation’”)
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
tell (plural tells)
- (archaeology) A mound, originally in the Middle East, over or consisting of the ruins of ancient settlements.
