dial
DY-uhl
/ˈdaɪəl/
To press the buttons or turn the disk on a telephone to make a call.
Implies entering a specific numerical sequence to initiate telecommunication.
The story behind the word. Long before telephones existed, a 'dial' was a face marked with graduations, like a sundial or clock face. Early mechanical telephones featured a rotating circular disc with numbered holes. Turning this rotary disc resembled turning a clock dial, so the verb 'to dial' entered the lexicon and survived into the digital push-button era.
Word relationships
- call: Call is broader and refers to the entire action of placing a call, whereas dial specifically refers to entering the digits.
- phone: Phone is an informal verb for placing a call without focusing on the input of digits.
- hang up: Hang up refers to terminating a telephone call rather than initiating one by dialing.
Commonly confused with
- redial: Dial means typing any number; redial specifically means calling the most recently dialed number again.
Word family
- dialer (noun): A person or device that dials telephone numbers.
- dialing (noun): The act of entering numbers on a telephone.
Collocations
- dial a number
- dial extension
- direct-dial code
- speed dial
Idioms & expressions
- dial back (to reduce intensity)
Example sentences
- "She had to dial the area code twice before the call finally went through." Everyday telecommunications
- "He picked up the receiver and began to dial the emergency operator with trembling fingers." Classic literature citation
Memory hook
Think of a clock DIAL with numbers around the circle; dialing a phone means choosing those exact numbers. Turn the numbered wheel to dial.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to tapping a saved contact's photo on a smartphone touchscreen unless speaking generally about initiating a call.
Fun facts
- Even though rotary phones disappeared decades ago, we still say 'dial' when tapping glass touchscreens.
Explore more words
transcribe, dispatch, Interact, Transmit, Communicate, intercom
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