phone

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈfōn 

plural phones

1

: a device by which sound (such as speech) is converted into electrical impulses and transmitted (as by wire or radio waves) to one or more specific receivers (see receiver sense d(1)) : telephone

Once it was as simple as this. I sat at my desk. The phone rang. I answered it.

—Malcolm Gladwell

received a phone call

: such as

a

: a telephone that operates by means of a landline

… the phone is in the front hall; this is an old-fashioned house …

—Alice Munro

b

: cell phone

… Dick got a call on his cell phone. Roxy grabbed the phone and answered.

—Mary-Anne Olmsted-Kohls

especially : smartphone

I have set an alert on my phone to make sure I don't forget a friend's birthday …

—Mike Vaccaro

2

: a device that converts electrical energy into sound waves and is worn over or inserted into the ear : earphone, headphone

The morning the "Smoking Gun" tape was played, tickets were so scarce that one couple from Kansas City, Mo., doubled up on earphones, she listening to the left, he to the right phone.

—Louise Sweeney

… taking off these RHA headphones and placing the Dr. Dre phones on my head, I realized the more expensive headphones did sound somewhat cleaner …

—Charlie White

phone

2 of 5

verb

phoned; phoning

: telephone

phone

3 of 5

noun (2)

: a speech sound considered as a physical event without regard to its place in the sound system of a language

-phone

4 of 5

noun combining form

plural -phones

1

: sound-transmitting device

microphone

radiophone

2

: musical instrument

xylophone

3

: speech sound

homophone

: symbol representing a speech sound

polyphone

4

: speaker of (a specified language)

Francophone

-phone

5 of 5

adjective combining form

: of or relating to a population that speaks (a specified language)

Francophone

Synonyms

Verb

• call
• dial
• ring (up) [chiefly British]
• telephone

Examples of phone in a Sentence

Verb

Someone from the newspaper will be phoning with a few questions.

she phoned her friend to invite her over for dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ventura is seen picking up a hotel phone when Combs returns and appears to push her into a corner. —Charmaine Patterson, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024

The criminal complaint is about the allegations involving the teenager who found the hidden phone. —Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 23 May 2024

In hopes of finding and interviewing Spider-Man, The Charlotte Observer left phone messages since Friday with Waxhaw Mayor Robert Murray and the Waxhaw officer who handles media calls, Lt. Michael Mulligan. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 23 May 2024

The all-in-one set comes with all the necessary accessories: the board, the pump, paddles, patches, and fun extras like an attachable seat and splash-proof phone pouch. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2024

Advertisement Charter’s stock has tumbled more than 25% year-to-date, weighed down by concerns about weakness in its broadband internet and wireless phone business, as well as further erosion in pay TV subscribers — a trend that has had wide-reaching financial implications. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

Thrown in the package is free WiFi, a phone charger and portable locker. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024

He was arrested after a 14-year-old passenger on another flight discovered Thompson's hidden phone in the plane lavatory. —Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 22 May 2024

The car offers premium features like a rotating touch screen and wireless phone charging and sells for less than $10,000 in China. —Albertina Torsoli, Fortune Asia, 22 May 2024

Verb

Never one to phone in a role, Hardy’s propensity for strange accents, disguises, and tics can be viewed as over the top or as a sign of his commitment. —Elliott Smith and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 23 May 2024

Anonymous tips can be phoned in to Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-392-4340. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 May 2024

Another member of the church leadership phoned as well and confirmed the worst-case scenario. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 21 May 2024

Anxious but increasingly certain, Dr. Luch phoned the local public health department, located just across the street. —Stephanie Nolen Thomas Cristofoletti, New York Times, 21 May 2024

In recent weeks, several people have phoned in reports of creatures that fit that description to officials at Big Cypress National Preserve. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2024

In an effort to create a mosaic of photos of him at every age, the Missouri mom found and phoned key players from Hakin's childhood, from his biological family members to contacts at his old schools. —Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024

The contact between parents and children especially has increased in recent years, even if that sometimes means the helicopter mom or dad, phoning or texting offspring daily or more. —Gary S. Cross, Fortune, 8 May 2024

Putting on an authentic performance or phoning it in to please the crowd? —USA TODAY, 2 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening

Verb

derivative of phone entry 1

Noun (2)

borrowed from Greek phōnḗ "voice, speech" — more at phono-

Noun combining form

borrowed from Greek -phōnos "having a sound (of the kind or number specified)," derivative of phōnḗ "sound made by something living, voice, speech, utterance"; (sense 4) borrowed from French, borrowed from Greek -phōnos — more at phono-

Adjective combining form

borrowed from French — more at -phone entry 1

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1885, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing phone

• burner phone
• cell phone
• cell phone lot
• cell phone parking lot
• courtesy phone
• flip phone
• get the phone
• mobile phone
• on the phone
• over the phone
• pay phone
• phone book
• phone booth
• phone box
• phone card
• phone directory
• phone-in
• phone sex
• phone tag
• phone tapping
• put down the phone
• put the phone down on (someone)
• screen one's (telephone/phone) calls
• smart phone

Kids Definition

phone

1 of 3 noun

ˈfōn 

1

: headphone

2

: telephone entry 1

3

smartphone

phone

2 of 3 verb

phoned; phoning

: telephone entry 2

-phone

3 of 3 noun combining form

ˌfōn

: sound

homophone

—often in names of musical instruments and sound-sending devices

radiophone

xylophone

Etymology

Noun combining form

from Greek phōnē "voice, sound"