telephone

noun

/ˈtelɪfəʊn/

(rather formal)

(also phone)

Idioms

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[countable, uncountable] a system for talking to somebody else over long distances, using wires or radio; a machine used for this
- The telephone rang and Pat answered it.
- I need to make a telephone call.
- over the telephone You can reserve seats over the telephone.
- by telephone Can I get in touch by telephone?
- on the telephone They talk on the telephone much more often than they meet.
- She spoke by telephone to the French President.
- a telephone conversation/interview
- telephone lines/services
Collocations Phones
PhonesMaking and receiving phone calls
- the phone/telephone rings
- answer/pick up/hang up the phone/telephone
- lift/pick up/hold/replace the receiver
- dial a (phone/extension/wrong) number/an area code
- call somebody/talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/telephone; from home/work/the office
- make/get/receive a phone call
- take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
- the line is (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy
- the phones have been (North American English) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
- put somebody through/get through to the person you want to speak to
- put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
- call from/use a landline
Mobile/cell phones
- be/talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell
- use/answer/call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- switch/turn on/off your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- charge/recharge your mobile phone/mobile/cell phone/cell
- a mobile/cell phone is on/is off/rings/goes off
- (British English) top up your mobile/cell (phone)
- send/receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
- insert/remove/change a SIM card
see also radio-telephone
Extra Examples
- All letters should include an address and a daytime telephone number.
- Can I use your telephone?
- Excuse me, do you have a telephone?
- Hang on—I'll just get the telephone.
- He was called to the telephone just as he was leaving.
- She is in telephone contact with headquarters.
- The charity has set up a 24-hour telephone helpline.
- The office telephones were all out of order.
- The telephone was ringing furiously.
Topics Phones, email and the interneta1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- public
- office
- cellular
- …
verb + telephone
- use
- be on
- have
- …
telephone + verb
- ring
telephone + noun
- number
- book
- directory
- …
preposition
- by telephone
- on the telephone
- over the telephone
- …
See full entry
[countable] the part of the phone that you hold in your hand and speak into
- I picked up the telephone and called some people I knew.
- She put down the telephone and burst into tears.
- I've been trying to phone him all day—he must have left his telephone off the hook.
synonym handset, receiverTopics Houses and homesa1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- public
- office
- cellular
- …
verb + telephone
- use
- be on
- have
- …
telephone + verb
- ring
telephone + noun
- number
- book
- directory
- …
preposition
- by telephone
- on the telephone
- over the telephone
- …
See full entry

Idioms

be on the telephone

to be using the phone
- He's on the telephone at the moment.
- You're wanted (= somebody wants to speak to you) on the telephone.
Topics Phones, email and the interneta2
(British English, old-fashioned) to have a phone in your home or place of work
- We were not on the telephone at the cottage.
This expression became old-fashioned when mobile phones came into use. These days we would say: ‘We don't have a landline at the cottage.’Topics Phones, email and the internetc2

telephone

verb

/ˈtelɪfəʊn/

(especially British English, formal)

(also phone especially in British English)

(also call British and North American English)

[intransitive, transitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they telephone	/ˈtelɪfəʊn/ /ˈtelɪfəʊn/
he / she / it telephones	/ˈtelɪfəʊnz/ /ˈtelɪfəʊnz/
past simple telephoned	/ˈtelɪfəʊnd/ /ˈtelɪfəʊnd/
past participle telephoned	/ˈtelɪfəʊnd/ /ˈtelɪfəʊnd/
-ing form telephoning	/ˈtelɪfəʊnɪŋ/ /ˈtelɪfəʊnɪŋ/

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to speak to somebody by phone
- Please write or telephone for details.
- He telephoned to say he'd be late.
- telephone somebody/something I was about to telephone the police.
- You can telephone your order 24 hours a day.
- telephone (somebody/something) on/at something For tickets telephone the box office on 4121211.
British/American phone / call / ring
phone / call / ringVerbs
- In British English, to phone, to ring and to call are the usual ways of saying to telephone. In North American English the most common word is call, but phone is also used. Speakers of North American English do not say ring. Telephone is very formal and is used mainly in British English.
Nouns
- You can use call or phone call (more formal) in both British English and North American English:
  Were there any phone calls for me?
  How do I make a local call?
  The idiom give somebody a call is also common:
  I’ll give you a call tonight.
  In informal British English you could also say:
  I’ll give you a ring tonight.
Topics Phones, email and the interneta1