phone | meaning of phone in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2024)

From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishphonephone1 /fəʊn $ foʊn/ ●●● S1 W2 noun [countable] 1 TELEPHONEa telephone Much of his work is done by phone. Who was that on the phone? I wish Amy would get off the phone. → cellphone, mobile phone, pay phoneGrammarYou say: She’s on the phone.She’s talking on her phone. ✗Don’t say: at the phone 2 TELEPHONEthe part of a telephone into which you speak SYN receiver He put the phone down on me (=ended the call before I had finished speaking).COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2verbsuse the phoneDo you mind if I use your phone?the phone ringsAround three o’clock, the phone rang.answer the phone (also pick up the phone)My dad answered the phone.put the phone downI only remembered his name after I had put the phone down.slam the phone down (=put it down hard, because you are angry)I was so mad I just slammed the phone down.talk/speak (to somebody) on the phoneWe talk on the phone every day.We spoke earlier on the phone, if you remember.come to the phoneI’m sorry, she can’t come to the phone right now. be on the phone to somebody (=be talking to someone on the phone)I was on the phone to my mother all morning.be wanted on the phoneLarry, tell Rosemary that she’s wanted on the phone.call somebody on the phoneI called her on the phone and invited her to Las Vegas.get on the phone to somebody (=call them)We got on the phone to the hospital straight away.phone + NOUNa phone numberCan I have your phone number?a phone line (=a telephone wire or connection)Listeners jammed the phone lines, demanding to hear the song.a phone bill (=a bill for phone calls)Our last phone bill was huge.a phone company (=one that provides a telephone service)I switched phone companies.a phone conversationNeither man denies the phone conversation took place.phrasesthe phone is busy (also the phone is engaged British English) (=the person you are calling is already speaking to someone else)I tried you earlier, but your phone was engaged.the phone goes/is dead (=the phone line stops working or is not working)Before he could reply, the phone suddenly went dead.the phone is off the hook (=it cannot be used because it is not connected or is already being used)On Friday nights we just take the phone off the hook and relax. THESAURUSphone (also telephone formal)My wife was talking to someone on the phone.What’s your home phone number?The nearest telephone was in the school secretary’s office.mobile phone British English (also mobile informal) a telephone that you can carry with you, that works by using a network of radio stations to pass on signalsEven children as young as eight have mobile phones.She always has her mobile switched off.cell phone American English (also cell informal) a mobile phoneYou can reach me on my cell phone.voice mail a system that records messages so that you can listen to them on your phoneLet me check my voice mail.text message (also text, SMS) a message from someone that you can read on your mobile phoneI got a text from Paul.landline a telephone that uses wires – used when comparing this with a mobile phoneCalls cost 25p from a landline, more from a mobile phone.receiver the part of a telephone that you pick up to listen and talkShe put down the receiver and started crying. Examples from the Corpusphone• I could hear a phone ringing in the next apartment.• One phone call could save a lot of hassle.• It was another reporter asking questions, so she just slammed down the phone.• They've been back on the phone again despite Portsmouth awarding him a new two-year contract!• Why hadn't Doug wanted to tell her on the phone?• Several hours later, I was talking to Pierluigi on the phone in Manhattan.• I was sorely tempted to show him the way to the phone booth, but I am not a vindictive man.• Many writers feeling good about their contribution have picked up the phone and been told to get cranking again.• The phone company maintains that the upgrade will not cause telephone rates to increase.• What's your phone number?• Can I use your phone? off the phone• He cut off the phone lines to the office of Vladimir Draitser, the joint venture director.• Jen goes, could I get off the phone now?• Finally just started standing there until she saw me get off the phone.• Alistair was just getting off the phone when I came in to change out of my good clothes.• Gebhardt said he saw no suspects when he got off the phone and discovered the items missing and the door ajar.• When he got off the phone, he felt scared of everything.• By the time she got off the phone I was dressed and tying my shoes. phonephone2 ●●● S1 (also phone up) verb [intransitive, transitive] TELEPHONEto speak to someone by telephone I’ll phone you this evening. Why didn’t they phone the police? For information phone 8279–3772. Stevie phoned to say that he was going to be late. I kept phoning her up, asking to meet her. Tell him to phone back (=telephone again at a later time) tomorrow. ► You do not ‘phone to’ someone or ‘phone to’ a number. Phone is followed immediately by a noun or number: She phoned her friend Judy. | Phone 01279–623772 and ask to speak to Elaine. THESAURUSphone to speak to someone by telephone. Phone is more common in British English than American EnglishI’ll phone you tomorrow.call to phone someone. Call is used in both British and American EnglishOne of the neighbors called the police.Call me later.ring British English spoken to phone someone. Ring is more informal than phone or callI can ring her at the office tomorrow.give somebody a call (also give somebody a ring) spoken to phone someoneIf you ever come to Seattle, give me a call.I’ll give the hospital a ring and see how he is.telephone formal to phone someoneAngry listeners telephoned the BBC to complain. Skype /skaɪp/ trademark to make a telephone call using special software that allows you to make calls over the InternetI Skyped her last night and we spoke for hours. → phone in→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpusphone• He has often been phoned by cold callers trying the masculinity trip on him.• Let's phone for a pizza tonight.• I phoned her apartment, but she wasn't there.• Jackie goes upstairs to phone her husband at work, so that he might make a trip to the shops before visiting hour.• She phones me every other day.• The concerned kitchen staff phoned the embassy for a translation.• Any parent who is worried their child may have been in contact with the doctor can still phone the hospital for advice.• Strawberry phoned the Red Sox Wednesday in an attempt to get talks going but missed Duquette.• You can register for the program by phoning this number.• Jill phoned to tell you she'll see you tonight.• He guessed his Mum would phone when she got to work and then maybe again when she took her break at half-three.• I'll phone you if there's any news. -phone-phone /fəʊn $ foʊn/ suffix 1 [in nouns]XX an instrument or machine relating to sound or hearing, especially a musical instrument earphones (=for listening to a radio etc) a saxophone 2 [in nouns] technicalSPEAK A LANGUAGE someone who speaks a particular language a Francophone (=someone who speaks French)3 [in adjectives]SPEAK A LANGUAGE speaking a particular language Francophone nations (=nations where French is spoken)From Longman Business Dictionaryphonephone1 /fəʊnfoʊn/ noun [countable]TELECOMMUNICATIONS a piece of equipment you use to talk to someone who is in another placeSYNTELEPHONE → see also answerphone, smartphone → mobile phonephonephone2 (also phone up) verb [intransitive, transitive] especially British English to make a phone call to someoneSYNCALL, PHONEYou can phone our customer support line at any time.I phoned up yesterday to check if the order had been sent.→ See Verb tableOrigin -phone Greek -phonos “sounding”, from phone; PHON- phone1 (1800-1900) telephone