Library / English Dictionary

DIAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: dialled    , dialling   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

face (the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object))

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

horologe; timekeeper; timepiece (a measuring instrument or device for keeping time)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called

Synonyms:

dial; telephone dial

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

selector; selector switch (a switch that is used to select among alternatives)

Meronyms (parts of "dial"):

finger hole (a hole for inserting a finger)

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

dial phone; dial telephone (a telephone with a dial for registering the number to be called)

Derivation:

dial (choose by means of a dial)

dial (operate a dial to select a telephone number)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

indicator (a device for showing the operating condition of some system)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

control; controller (a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Choose by means of a dial

Example:

dial a telephone number

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

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

choose; pick out; select; take (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

dial (a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Operate a dial to select a telephone number

Example:

You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

control; operate (handle and cause to function)

Domain category:

telephone; telephony (transmitting speech at a distance)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

dial (a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called)

Credits

 Context examples: 

In addition to documenting a driver’s dialing, texting, browsing or reaching for a phone, researchers assessed numerous secondary tasks, including dancing to music, attending to personal hygiene, and eating or drinking.

(Reaching for objects while driving may raise teen crash risk nearly sevenfold, National Institutes of Health)

The lawn started at the beach and ran toward the front door for a quarter of a mile, jumping over sun-dials and brick walks and burning gardens—finally when it reached the house drifting up the side in bright vines as though from the momentum of its run.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)