phone

1
[ fohn ]
See synonyms for phone on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

verb (used with object),phoned, phon·ing.
  1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.

  2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object),phoned, phon·ing.
  1. to send a message by telephone.

Origin of phone

1
First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Other definitions for phone (2 of 3)

phone2
[ fohn ]

nounPhonetics.
  1. a speech sound: There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

Origin of phone

2
First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

Other words from phone

  • phonal, adjective

Other definitions for -phone (3 of 3)

-phone

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

Origin of -phone

3
see origin at phone2

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for phone (1 of 3)

phone1

/ (fəʊn) /


noun, verb
  1. short for telephone

British Dictionary definitions for phone (2 of 3)

phone2

/ (fəʊn) /


noun
  1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

Origin of phone

2
C19: from Greek phōnē sound, voice

British Dictionary definitions for -phone (3 of 3)

-phone

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

Origin of -phone

3
from Greek phōnē voice, sound

Derived forms of -phone

  • -phonic, adj combining form

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012