English Meaning & Definitions
An instrument or system for transmitting speech or other sounds to a distant point, typically by electrical or radio signals.
- “The telephone rang loudly in the middle of the night.”
- “He picked up the telephone to call his mother.”
To make a phone call to someone; to speak to or contact using a telephone.
- “She promised to telephone me as soon as she landed.”
- “I will telephone the office to let them know I am running late.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “telephone”.
Coined in the 19th century from the Greek prefix 'tēle-' meaning 'far off' or 'at a distance', and 'phōnē' meaning 'voice' or 'sound'. Together, they literally translate to 'distant sound'.
Combine 'tele' (far, like telescope) and 'phone' (sound, like phonics) to remember it transmits sound over a long distance.
Frequently Asked Questions About “telephone”
1. What is the meaning of “telephone” in English?
In English, telephone (noun) is defined as: “An instrument or system for transmitting speech or other sounds to a distant point, typically by electrical or radio signals.”.
2. How do you use “telephone” in a sentence?
“The telephone rang loudly in the middle of the night.”
3. What are English synonyms of “telephone”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “telephone”?
Coined in the 19th century from the Greek prefix 'tēle-' meaning 'far off' or 'at a distance', and 'phōnē' meaning 'voice' or 'sound'. Together, they literally translate to 'distant sound'.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.