phone

¹ American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

1. telephone.

2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

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verb (used with object)

phoned, phoning

1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.

2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

phoned, phoning

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone ² American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

Phonetics.

1. a speech sound.

   There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

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-phone ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone ), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone ), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone ).

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-phone ¹ British  

combining form

1. (forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound

   microphone

   telephone

2. (forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language

   Francophone

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phone ² British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

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phone ³ British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

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Other Word Forms

• -phonic combining form
• phonal adjective

Etymology

Origin of phone¹

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Origin of phone²

First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

Origin of -phone³

phone ²

Example Sentences

I can work on my phone and look up when something interesting happens.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Spur built a quick-test page that looks at your home network’s IP address—the internet’s version of a phone number.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The BBC show challenges pairs of travellers to tackle an intrepid expedition with no phone and limited cash.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“I was the first person to ever reach out to Shira,” he says proudly in a separate phone interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

I set my phone down on the bench beside me and pull the plate closer.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial