to relate (facts, a story, etc) in detail
to give information to (somebody)
to order (somebody) to do something
I told them to wait
to discern or ascertain (something)
You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans — Ronald Reagan
to perceive (a difference)
(+ from) to distinguish or discriminate (something or somebody)
It's hard to tell one from the other
(usu + of) to give an account of something
to make a positive assertion; to decide definitely
You can never tell for certain
(often + on) to act as an informer
(usu + on) to have an effect
The worry began to tell on her nerves
(+ of) to indicate something
to play a part in or have an effect on a process
That will tell against you in court
to hold or reveal significant information
to be untruthful
to reveal secrets or spread gossip
to read the information on a clock or watch
informal expressing agreement or prior knowledge