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• phone
  phone

  noun

  telephone.
• -phone
  -phone

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

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

see origin at phone ²

Example Sentences

Though there were misses like the 1960s-era Picture Phone, which was too expensive and clunky for its day, its golden age lasted from the late 1920s until the 1980s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

People aged 20-30 are especially drawn to the Light Phone, he said, as a tool to control their relationship to the tech in their lives.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

Phone plans with unlimited data or international features may no longer reflect current needs.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026

Ransone reprised his role in the sequel, “Black Phone II.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2025

Phone Friend was pulled up on my screen— their username was EyesOnTheSky_Traveler—but I hadn’t added them to my friend list yet.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial