A speech sound; the smallest unit of sound in speech that can be distinguished from any other such unit. Also: = allophone n.¹In quot. 1892 used to mean one of the sounds uttered by monkeys, supposed by the writer to express certain ideas (and corresponding to words in human speech).

phone-type n. a speech sound considered as a purely phonetic event.

1. A telephone apparatus; a telephone receiver or handset.cell, mobile, pay phone, etc.: see the first element.

2. A telephone call.

on the phone adv. (a) connected to the telephone system; (b) engaged in a conversation on the telephone.

phone-answering n. and adj.

phone bell n.

phone call n.

phone caller n.

phone exchange n. (see exchange n. 10c).

phone-installation n.

phone jack n. [see Jack n.² 18a]

phone kiosk n.

phone message n.

phone order n.

phone receiver n.

phone wire n.

phone bank n. originally and chiefly U.S. = telephone bank n.¹

phone bill n. a statement of charges for the use of a telephone.

phone book n. a telephone directory.

phone booth n. = phone box n.

phone box n. a booth or box-like kiosk containing a public payphone.

phonecard n. a prepaid card that allows a person to make calls from a cardphone up to a certain cost.

phone hacker n. a person who engages in phone hacking.

phone hacking n. (originally) = phone phreaking n.; (now chiefly) the action or practice of gaining unauthorized access to a person's telephone communications or data.

phone line n. = line n.² 1e(a).

phone mail n. (also PhoneMail) (a proprietary name for) voice mail.

phone number n. the identifying number assigned to a telephone or group of telephones which is dialled in order to make a connection to it.

phone operator n. (a) a person who works at the switchboard of a telephone exchange; (b) a company which runs a telephone business.

phone patch n. a temporary radio link between a radio operator and a telephone user; communication made by this means (see patch n.¹ 14).

phone sex n. sexually explicit telephone conversation engaged in for sexual gratification; the commercial provision of such conversation.

phone soliciting n. originally and chiefly U.S. the use of a telephone to sell a product or service, raise funds, etc.; telemarketing.

phone solicitor n. originally and chiefly U.S. a telephone salesperson.

phone tag n. colloquial (originally and chiefly North American) a situation in which two people attempting to communicate by telephone repeatedly miss one another, often involving one or both people leaving a message asking to be called back; = telephone tag n. at telephone n. Compounds 3.

phone tap n. = telephone tap n. at telephone n. Compounds 3.

phone-tap v. (intransitive) to tap a telephone or telephones.

phone-tapper n. a person who taps a telephone or telephones.

phone-tapping n. = telephone tapping n. at telephone n. Compounds 3.

phone tree n. U.S. an organized chain of telephone calls in which each person called telephones a number of other designated people, in order to form a system for contacting a large number of people quickly.

ˈphoneless adj. not possessing a telephone; without the use of a telephone.

An earphone; a headphone. In quot. 1884: the earpiece of a telephone. Usually in plural.

1. intransitive. To make a telephone call; = telephone v. 1b. Frequently with adverbs, as in, out, etc.

2. transitive. To speak to or call on the telephone; = telephone v. 1c. Frequently with up.

3. transitive. To submit or announce by telephone; = telephone v. 1a. Now also: to deliver (a performance) by rote or without complete attention or enthusiasm. Frequently with in.

ˈphoning n. = telephoning n. at telephone v. Derivatives.