telephone

Pluraltelephones

Formstelephones, telephoning, telephoned

1. 1
   calling devicenouncountable

   A device for talking with someone far away, or the part of it you hold to your ear and mouth.

   Like a tube that carries your voice to someone far away.

   Grandpa still keeps an old telephone on the kitchen wall.

   The telephone rang twice before she picked it up.

   UsagePeople usually say phone: on the phone.

   Similarphone

   Note
2. 2
   call someoneverbtransitive or intransitive

   To call someone on the phone, or to give someone a message or information by phone.

   Please telephone me as soon as you arrive.

   He telephoned his sister to share the news.

   UsageSay telephone someone. People usually say call or phone.

   Similarphone, call, ring

   Note
3. 3
   whisper gamenounCanadaUSuncountable

   A party game where players whisper a message down a line, and it changes by the end.

   Like passing a secret along a row of friends until it sounds new.

   At recess the kids played telephone and laughed at the funny ending.

   We started a game of telephone, and the message got all mixed up.

   UsageSay play telephone.

   Note

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