dial tone
noun
: a tone emitted by a telephone as a signal that the system is ready for dialing
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Invest in supply chain operating systems to begin the journey of building a supply chain bi-directional dial tone. 
Lora Cecere, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 The implementation of control towers lack a dial tone giving business leaders a false sense of security. Lora Cecere, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 Next step: Get out the ladder and mount a few phones on the wooden noise barrier, where the constant hum of traffic on the highway serves as a sort of eternal dial tone. John Reinan, Star Tribune, 20 July 2021 Sometime that morning Johan had entered the office and, attempting to make a call, found no dial tone. Ew Staff, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2021 Streep blissing out to a dial tone, flirting awkwardly with Chris Cooper, brushing her teeth while stoned, smiling at her toes. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 8 Dec. 2020 But, after the sound of a dial tone, the pair went silent, and Negandhi’s studio crew again took over. Ramon Antonio Vargas | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 19 Sep. 2020 The din of city traffic is about 85 decibels; the hum of a dial tone, 80 decibels. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 9 Sep. 2020 Even landlines weren’t exempt: The dial tone on my grandparents’ phone was temporarily replaced with the same PSA. Shraddha Chakradhar, STAT, 27 Mar. 2020 See More
Lora Cecere, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 The implementation of control towers lack a dial tone giving business leaders a false sense of security. Lora Cecere, Forbes, 15 Nov. 2021 Next step: Get out the ladder and mount a few phones on the wooden noise barrier, where the constant hum of traffic on the highway serves as a sort of eternal dial tone. John Reinan, Star Tribune, 20 July 2021 Sometime that morning Johan had entered the office and, attempting to make a call, found no dial tone. Ew Staff, EW.com, 27 Apr. 2021 Streep blissing out to a dial tone, flirting awkwardly with Chris Cooper, brushing her teeth while stoned, smiling at her toes. Chris Hewitt, Star Tribune, 8 Dec. 2020 But, after the sound of a dial tone, the pair went silent, and Negandhi’s studio crew again took over. Ramon Antonio Vargas | Staff Writer, NOLA.com, 19 Sep. 2020 The din of city traffic is about 85 decibels; the hum of a dial tone, 80 decibels. Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 9 Sep. 2020 Even landlines weren’t exempt: The dial tone on my grandparents’ phone was temporarily replaced with the same PSA. Shraddha Chakradhar, STAT, 27 Mar. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1923, in the meaning defined above