Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense dials, present participle dialling, past tense, past participle dialledregional note: in AM, use dialing, dialed
1. countable noun
A dial is the part of a machine or instrument such as a clock or watch which shows you thetime or a measurement that has been recorded.
The luminous dial on the clock showed five minutes to seven.
The dials of most barometers are inscribed with weather terms.
2. countable noun
A dial is a control on a device or piece of equipment which you can move in order to adjust the setting, for example to select or change the frequency on a radio or the temperature of a heater.
He turned the dial on the radio.
The heat dial was set at 150 degrees.
3. countable noun
On some telephones, especially older ones, thedial is the disc on the front that you turn with your finger to choose the number that you want to call. The disc has holes in it, and numbers or letters behind the holes.
...turning the dial on the phone.
4. verb
If you dial or if you dial a number, you turn the dial or press the buttons on a telephone in order to phone someone.
He lifted the phone and dialled her number. [VERB noun]
He dialled, and spoke briefly to the duty officer. [VERB]
dial in British English
(ˈdaɪəl, daɪl)
noun
1.
the face of a watch, clock, chronometer, sundial, etc, marked with divisions representing units of time
2.
the circular graduated disc of various measuring instruments
3.
a.
the control on a radio or television set used to change the station or channel
b.
the panel on a radio on which the frequency, wavelength, or station is indicated by means of a pointer
4.
a numbered disc on a telephone that is rotated a set distance for each digit of a number being called
5.
a miner's compass for surveying in a mine
6. British a slang word for face (sense 1)
verbWord forms: dials, dialling, dialledWord forms: USdials, dialing or dialed
7.
to establish or try to establish a telephone connection with (a subscriber or his or her number) by operating the dial on a telephone
8. (transitive)
to indicate, measure, or operate with a dial
Derived forms
dialler (ˈdialler)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Medieval Latin diālis daily, from Latin diēs day
dial. in British English
abbreviation for
dialect(al)
dial in American English1
(ˈdaɪəl)
noun
1.
a sundial
2.
the face of a watch or clock
3.
a.
the face of a meter, gauge, compass, etc. on which a pointer or the like indicates an amount, degree, direction, etc.
b.
an illuminated strip on a radio, marked with frequency numbers and equipped with a pointer, for indicating the station selected
4.
a usually graduated disk or knob for controlling some function, as the selection of a TV channel or the temperature of an oven
5.
a.
a rotating disk on a telephone, used in making connections automatically
b. Loosely
an arrangement of numbered push buttons on a telephone, used for this purpose
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈdialed or ˈdialled, ˈdialing or ˈdialling
6.
to measure (something) with or as with a dial
7.
to tune in (a radio station, television channel, program, etc.)
8. US
to call (a person, telephone number, etc.) on a telephone by using a dial, keypad, etc.
Word origin
ME < ML dialis, daily < L dies, day: see deity
dial in American English2
1.
dialect(al)
2.
dialectic(al)
dial in American English
(ˈdaiəl, dail)
Word forms: verbdialed, dialing or esp Brit dialled, dialling
noun
1.
a plate, disk, face, or other surface containing markings or figures upon which the time of day is indicated by hands, pointers, or shadows, as of a clock or sundial
2.
a plate or disk with markings or figures for indicating or registering some measurement or number, as of pressure, number of revolutions, the frequency to which a radio is tuned, etc., usually by means of a pointer
3.
a rotatable plate, disk, or knob used for regulating a mechanism, making and breaking electrical connections, etc., as in tuning a radio or television station in or out
4. Also called: rotary dial
a rotatable plate or disk on a telephone, fitted with finger holes that are marked with letters or numbers
5.
any mechanism on the face of a telephone by which the caller places a call, as push buttons
6. Also called: miner's dial Mining
a compass used for underground surveying
transitive verb
7.
to indicate or register on or as if on a dial
8.
to measure with or as if with a dial
9.
to regulate, select, or tune in by means of a dial, as on a radio
to dial my favorite program
10.
to make a telephone call to
Dial me at home
intransitive verb
11.
to use a telephone dial; to dial a telephone
I keep dialing, but the line seems dead
12.
to tune in or regulate by means of a dial
to dial into the opera broadcast
13. See dial up
adjective
14. (of a telephone)
having a rotary dial mechanism
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME: instrument for telling time by the sun's shadow, presumably ‹ MLdiālis daily (L di(ēs) day + -ālis-al1)]
Examples of 'dial' in a sentence
dial
The team asked volunteers to dial a number while on a treadmill for two minutes.
The Sun (2016)
They found so few errors in the number dialling that they concluded people felt it more important to text than walk properly.
The Sun (2016)
The cabin is uncluttered with a small cluster of instrument dials to control key elements.
The Sun (2012)
Yet pollsters use random digit dialling of landlines to build their samples.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Just set that shopping dial to spend.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Simply turn the dial for the correct hue.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Very little really moves the footballing dial.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Just move the numbered dial each time you refill.
The Sun (2015)
You are longing to dial the phone and hear their voice.
The Sun (2011)
The striking theme inside is lit up by red instrument dials.
The Sun (2007)
Most cars have a dial or control on the dashboard.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Now is the time to really turn up the dial.
The Sun (2014)
But it will take something big to move the dial.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some still obsessively dial the mobile phones of their relatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Inside there are few changes to be seen other than a revised steering wheel and instrument dials.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It also has a control dial to switch from normal to snow mode.
The Sun (2013)
The classic 1970s design includes a square face with various dials and blue and red colours.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
No more need you play Russian roulette with the radio dial.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
For local calls, dial the number only.
Collins Traveller - Mallorca
Do the radio dials go up to 11?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
My worry is that we're now having our tastes set at a dial by the tabloid press.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
A home phone usually requires you to look up a number and dial the digits.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When you try to dial their number, the app will alert your closest friends by text so they can stage an intervention.
The Sun (2013)
Lone workers can set a speed dial button to ring for help, but this is slow and the wrong button may be selected under stress.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Try experimenting by turning your body, and then the dial, to face the other compass points.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Many spent the past week dialling their answering machines: if they took messages, the house was still standing.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
dial
British English: dial /ˈdaɪəl; daɪl/ VERB
If you dial, or if you dial a number, you turn the dial or press the buttons on a telephone.
He lifted the phone and dialled her number.
He dialled, and spoke briefly to the duty officer.
American English: dial
Arabic: يُدِيرُ قُرْصَ الهَاتِف
Brazilian Portuguese: discar
Chinese: 拨号
Croatian: nazvati
Czech: vytočit číslo
Danish: ringe
Dutch: draaien kiezen
European Spanish: marcar teléfono
Finnish: valita numero puhelimella
French: composer téléphone
German: wählen Telefon
Greek: παίρνω τηλέφωνο
Italian: comporre
Japanese: ダイヤルする
Korean: 전화를 걸다
Norwegian: ringe
Polish: wybrać numer
European Portuguese: discar
Romanian: a forma un număr
Russian: набирать номер
Latin American Spanish: marcar pulsar en un teléfono los números
Swedish: slå ett nummer
Thai: หมุน
Turkish: tuşlamak telefon
Ukrainian: набирати номер
Vietnamese: quay số
British English: dial NOUN
A dial is the part of a machine or instrument such as a clock or watch which shows you the time or a measurement that has been recorded.
The luminous dial on the clock showed five minutes to seven.
American English: dial
Brazilian Portuguese: indicador
Chinese: 刻度盘
European Spanish: esfera
French: cadran
German: Zifferblatt
Italian: quadrante
Japanese: 文字盤
Korean: 눈금판
European Portuguese: indicador
Latin American Spanish: esfera
All related terms of 'dial'
dial up
to increase or become increased
dial code
a sequence of numbers which are dialled for connection with another exchange before an individual subscriber's telephone number is dialled
dial down
to reduce or become reduced
dial tone
The dial tone is the same as the → dialling tone .
dial gauge
something that provides an indication , esp of trends
rotary dial
dial (sense 4 )
speed dial
Speed dial is a facility on a phone that allows you to call a number by pressing a single button rather than by dialling the full number.
dialling tone
The dialling tone is the noise which you hear when you pick up a telephone receiver and which means that you can dial the number you want .
indicator
An indicator is a measurement or value which gives you an idea of what something is like.
Chinese translation of 'dial'
dial
(ˈdaɪəl)
n(c)
(on clock or meter) 标(標)度盘(盤) (biāodùpán) (个(個), gè)
(on radio) 调(調)谐(諧)度盘(盤) (tiáoxiédùpán)
(on telephone) 拨(撥)号(號)盘(盤) (bōhàopán)
vt
[number]拨(撥) (bō)
vi
拨(撥)号(號) (bōhào)
can I dial London direct?我可以直接往伦(倫)敦打电(電)话(話)吗(嗎)？ (wǒ kěyǐ zhíjiē wǎng Lúndūn dǎ diànhuà ma?)