Library / English Dictionary

CALL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date

Synonyms:

call; call option

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

option (the right to buy or sell property at an agreed price; the right is purchased and if it is not exercised by a stated date the money is forfeited)

Holonyms ("call" is a part of...):

span; straddle (the act of sitting or standing astride)

Derivation:

call (require the presentation of for redemption before maturation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee

Example:

he was ejected for protesting the call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

conclusion; decision; determination (the act of making up your mind about something)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Derivation:

call (declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee)

call (indicate a decision in regard to)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A visit in an official or professional capacity

Example:

the salesman's call on a customer

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

visit (the act of going to see some person in a professional capacity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

round ((often plural) a series of professional calls (usually in a set order))

Sense 4

Meaning:

A brief social visit

Example:

the characters in Henry James' novels are forever paying calls on each other, usually in the parlor of some residence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

visit (the act of going to see some person or place or thing for a short time)

Derivation:

call (pay a brief visit)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course

Example:

he was disappointed that he had not heard the Call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("Call" is a kind of...):

disposition; inclination; tendency (an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others)

Derivation:

call (order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A telephone connection

Example:

he heard the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call

Synonyms:

call; phone call; telephone call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

call-back (a return call)

collect call (a telephone call that the receiving party is asked to pay for)

call-in (a telephone call to a radio station or a television station in which the caller participates in the on-going program)

crank call (a hostile telephone call (from a crank))

local call (a telephone call made within a local calling area)

long-distance call; long distance; trunk call (a telephone call made outside the local calling area)

conference call (a telephone call in which more than two people participate)

wake-up call (a telephone call that you request be made a specific time in order to wake you up at that time (especially in hotels))

Derivation:

call (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

Sense 7

Meaning:

An instruction that interrupts the program being executed

Example:

Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

command; instruction; program line; statement ((computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

supervisor call instruction; system call (an instruction that interrupts the program being executed and passes control to the supervisor)

function call (a call that passes control to a subroutine; after the subroutine is executed control returns to the next instruction in main program)

Sense 8

Meaning:

The characteristic sound produced by a bird

Example:

a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age

Synonyms:

birdcall; birdsong; call; song

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

animal communication (communication between animals (of the same species))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

bell-like call (a birdcall that resembles the tone of a bell)

two-note call (a birdcall having two notes)

Derivation:

call (lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal)

call (utter a characteristic note or cry)

Sense 9

Meaning:

A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

Example:

the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience

Synonyms:

call; cry; outcry; shout; vociferation; yell

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

bird; boo; Bronx cheer; hiss; hoot; raspberry; razz; razzing; snort (a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt)

yodel (a songlike cry in which the voice fluctuates rapidly between the normal voice and falsetto)

shouting; yelling (uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement)

battle cry; rallying cry; war cry; war whoop (a yell intended to rally a group of soldiers in battle)

whoop (a loud hooting cry of exultation or excitement)

scream; screaming; screech; screeching; shriek; shrieking (sharp piercing cry)

noise (a loud outcry of protest or complaint)

hosanna (a cry of praise or adoration (to God))

hoot (a loud raucous cry (as of an owl))

halloo (a shout to attract attention)

clamor; clamoring; clamour; clamouring; hue and cry (loud and persistent outcry from many people)

catcall (a cry expressing disapproval)

blue murder (an extravagantly loud outcry)

bellow; bellowing; holla; holler; hollering; hollo; holloa; roar; roaring; yowl (a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal))

Derivation:

call (utter a sudden loud cry)

call (utter in a loud voice or announce)

Sense 10

Meaning:

A request

Example:

not many calls for buggywhips

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

asking; request (the verbal act of requesting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "call"):

recall (a call to return)

Sense 11

Meaning:

A demand especially in the phrase

Example:

the call of duty

Synonyms:

call; claim

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

demand (an urgent or peremptory request)

Sense 12

Meaning:

A demand for a show of hands in a card game

Example:

after two raises there was a call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

demand (an urgent or peremptory request)

Holonyms ("call" is a part of...):

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

Sense 13

Meaning:

A demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement

Synonyms:

call; margin call

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("call" is a kind of...):

demand (an urgent or peremptory request)

Derivation:

call (demand payment of (a loan))

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rouse somebody from sleep with a call

Example:

I was called at 5 A.M. this morning

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

arouse; awaken; rouse; wake; wake up; waken (cause to become awake or conscious)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Consider or regard as being

Example:

I would not call her beautiful

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

consider; reckon; regard; see; view (deem to be)

Verb group:

call (ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 3

Meaning:

Challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of

Example:

call the speaker on a question of fact

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

challenge; dispute; gainsay (take exception to)

Verb group:

call (challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Utter in a loud voice or announce

Example:

The auctioneer called the bids

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Verb group:

call; cry; holler; hollo; scream; shout; shout out; squall; yell (utter a sudden loud cry)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

call (a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition)

caller (someone who proclaims or summons in a loud voice)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role

Example:

They called him to active military duty

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

request (ask (a person) to do something)

Verb group:

call; send for (order, request, or command to come)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

Call (a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course)

calling (the particular occupation for which you are trained)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Order or request or give a command for

Example:

The unions called a general strike for Sunday

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

order (make a request for something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 7

Meaning:

Lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal

Example:

Call ducks

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

entice; lure; tempt (provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion)

Verb group:

call (utter a characteristic note or cry)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

call (the characteristic sound produced by a bird)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

Example:

Take two aspirin and call me in the morning

Synonyms:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

telecommunicate (communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail)

"Call" entails doing...:

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

Verb group:

call (send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message)

Domain category:

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

cell phone (call up by using a cellular phone)

call in (make a phone call)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot call Sue

They call

Derivation:

caller (the person initiating a telephone call)

call (a telephone connection)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Order, request, or command to come

Example:

Call the police!

Synonyms:

call; send for

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

enjoin; order; say; tell (give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority)

Verb group:

call (order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role)

call (call a meeting; invite or command to meet)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

call up; mobilise; mobilize; rally (call to arms; of military personnel)

summon (ask to come)

hail (call for)

muster (call to duty, military service, jury duty, etc.)

lift (call to stop the hunt or to retire, as of hunting dogs)

call in (summon to a particular activity or employment)

call back; recall (summon to return)

beep (call, summon, or alert with a beeper)

cite; summon; summons (call in an official matter, such as to attend court)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody PP

Sentence example:

Sam cannot call Sue

Also:

call forth (summon into action or bring into existence, often as if by magic)

call forth (evoke or provoke to appear or occur)

call up (call to arms; of military personnel)

Derivation:

caller (someone who proclaims or summons in a loud voice)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee

Example:

call a runner out

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

adjudge; declare; hold (declare to be)

Verb group:

call (indicate a decision in regard to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something

Derivation:

call ((sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee)

Sense 11

Meaning:

Challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense

Example:

He deserves to be called on that

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

challenge; dispute; gainsay (take exception to)

Verb group:

call (challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot call Sue

Sense 12

Meaning:

Require the presentation of for redemption before maturation

Example:

Call a bond

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

ask; expect; require (consider obligatory; request and expect)

Verb group:

call; call in (demand payment of (a loan))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

call (the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date)

Sense 13

Meaning:

Utter a sudden loud cry

Example:

I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me

Synonyms:

call; cry; holler; hollo; scream; shout; shout out; squall; yell

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Verb group:

call (utter in a loud voice or announce)

call out; cry; cry out; exclaim; outcry; shout (utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

screak; screech; skreak; skreigh; squawk (utter a harsh abrupt scream)

howl; roar; ululate; wail; yaup; yawl (emit long loud cries)

pipe; pipe up; shriek; shrill (utter a shrill cry)

whoop (shout, as if with joy or enthusiasm)

halloo (shout 'halloo', as when greeting someone or attracting attention)

hurrah (shout 'hurrah!')

hollo (cry hollo)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Also:

call out (call out loudly, as of names or numbers)

Derivation:

call (a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition)

Sense 14

Meaning:

Make a prediction about; tell in advance

Example:

Call the outcome of an election

Synonyms:

anticipate; call; forebode; foretell; predict; prognosticate; promise

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

guess; hazard; pretend; venture (put forward, of a guess, in spite of possible refutation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

read (interpret the significance of, as of palms, tea leaves, intestines, the sky; also of human behavior)

outguess; second-guess (attempt to anticipate or predict)

augur (predict from an omen)

bet; wager (maintain with or as if with a bet)

calculate; forecast (predict in advance)

prophesy; vaticinate (predict or reveal through, or as if through, divine inspiration)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 15

Meaning:

Ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality

Example:

She called her children lazy and ungrateful

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

label (assign a label to; designate with a label)

Verb group:

call (consider or regard as being)

be known as; call; know as; name (assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to)

call (read aloud to check for omissions or absentees)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

brand; post (mark or expose as infamous)

miscall; misname (assign in incorrect name to)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s somebody something

Sense 16

Meaning:

Utter a characteristic note or cry

Example:

bluejays called to one another

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

emit; let loose; let out; utter (express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words))

Verb group:

call (lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

call (the characteristic sound produced by a bird)

Sense 17

Meaning:

Assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

Example:

The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader

Synonyms:

be known as; call; know as; name

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

label (assign a label to; designate with a label)

Verb group:

call (ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality)

address; call (greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

baptise; baptize; christen (administer baptism to)

refer (use a name to designate)

style; title (designate by an identifying term)

dub; nickname (give a nickname to)

rename (assign a new name to)

entitle; title (give a title to)

term (name formally or designate with a term)

tag (provide with a name or nickname)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Somebody ----s somebody something

Sentence example:

They call him "Bobby"

Sense 18

Meaning:

Send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message

Example:

A transmitter in Samoa was heard calling

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

telecommunicate (communicate over long distances, as via the telephone or e-mail)

Verb group:

call; call up; phone; ring; telephone (get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone)

Domain category:

telecom; telecommunication ((often plural) systems used in transmitting messages over a distance electronically)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 19

Meaning:

Read aloud to check for omissions or absentees

Example:

Call roll

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

read (look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed)

Verb group:

call (ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 20

Meaning:

Indicate a decision in regard to

Example:

call balls and strikes behind the plate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

indicate (to state or express briefly)

Verb group:

call (declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee)

Domain category:

athletics; sport (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

call ((sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee)

Sense 21

Meaning:

Give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance

Synonyms:

call; call off

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

"Call" entails doing...:

square dance (dance in formation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

caller (a person who announces the changes of steps during a dance)

Sense 22

Meaning:

Make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands

Example:

He called his trump

Synonyms:

bid; call

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

play (participate in games or sport)

Domain category:

card game; cards (a game played with playing cards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

preempt (make a preemptive bid in the game of bridge)

overbid (to bid for more tricks than one can expect to win,)

outbid (bid over an opponent's bid when one's partner has not bid or doubled)

underbid (bid (a hand of cards) at less than the strength of the hand warrants)

outcall (make a higher bid than (the previous bid or player); in a card game)

double (bridge: make a demand for (a card or suit))

raise (bid (one's partner's suit) at a higher level)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

caller (the bettor in a card game who matches the bet and calls for a show of hands)

Sense 23

Meaning:

Demand payment of (a loan)

Example:

Call a loan

Synonyms:

call; call in

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

demand; exact (claim as due or just)

Verb group:

call (require the presentation of for redemption before maturation)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

call (a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement)

callable (subject to a demand for payment before due date)

Sense 24

Meaning:

Call a meeting; invite or command to meet

Example:

The new dean calls meetings every week

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

ask for; bespeak; call for; quest; request (express the need or desire for)

Cause:

assemble; foregather; forgather; gather; meet (collect in one place)

Verb group:

call; send for (order, request, or command to come)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

caller (the person who convenes a meeting)

Sense 25

Meaning:

Pay a brief visit

Example:

The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens

Synonyms:

call; call in; visit

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

get together; meet (get together socially or for a specific purpose)

Verb group:

call (make a stop in a harbour)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "call"):

see (go to see for professional or business reasons)

see (go to see for a social visit)

come by; drop by; drop in (visit informally and spontaneously)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

call (a brief social visit)

caller (a social or business visitor)

Sense 26

Meaning:

Make a stop in a harbour

Example:

The ship will call in Honolulu tomorrow

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

stop; stop over (interrupt a trip)

Verb group:

call; call in; visit (pay a brief visit)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Sense 27

Meaning:

Greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name

Example:

She calls him by first name

Synonyms:

address; call

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

address; turn to (speak to)

Verb group:

be known as; call; know as; name (assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody something

Sense 28

Meaning:

Stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather

Example:

call a football game

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Hypernyms (to "call" is one way to...):

defer; hold over; postpone; prorogue; put off; put over; remit; set back; shelve; table (hold back to a later time)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

Anemia characterized by the presence of unusually large erythroblasts in the bone marrow called megaloblasts.

(Megaloblastic Anemia, NCI Thesaurus)

Megace belongs to the group of hormones called progestins.

(Megestrol acetate, NCI Dictionary)

Megestrol belongs to the group of hormones called progestins.

(Megestrol, NCI Dictionary)

Rose later than usual. Lucy was languid and tired, and slept on after we had been called.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Also called MC1R and melanocortin 1 receptor.

(Melanotropin receptor, NCI Dictionary)

Judge Miller’s place, it was called.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

“Why do you call to my remembrance,” I rejoined, circumstances of which I shudder to reflect, that I have been the miserable origin and author?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

We turned back, on my humbly insinuating that it might be useful to me hereafter; and he told the clerk that the carrier had instructions to call for it at noon.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

In his alarm and flurry, he threw the wood here and there about the floor, called and searched, but no cook was to be found.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

The mother called them to her and comforted them, telling them not to bother White Fang.

(White Fang, by Jack London)