caller

[ kaw-ler ]

/ ˈkɔ lər /

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See synonyms for caller on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person or thing that calls.

a person who makes a short visit.

Dance. a person who directs the movements of dancers, as at a hoedown or square dance, by calling out the successive figures as the music plays.

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Origin of caller

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English. See call, -er¹

synonym study for caller

2. See visitor.

Words nearby caller

callboy, call center, call centre, call down, called strike, caller, caller ID, Calles, Call-Exner body, call for, call forth

Definition for caller (2 of 2)

caller²

[ kal-er, kah-ler ]

/ ˈkæl ər, ˈkɑ lər /

adjective Scot. and North England.

(of fruit, fish, vegetables, etc.) fresh; recently picked or caught.

refreshing.

Origin of caller

1325–75; Middle English, north. variant of calver fresh, alive (said of fish) < ?

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for caller

The caller was 17, female and speaking barely above a whisper.
The loneliness of an interrupted adolescence|Ellen McCarthy|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
The caller talked for almost a half an hour and told Kramon at the end that he felt a little better for having told his story.
The loneliness of an interrupted adolescence|Ellen McCarthy|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Commissioners also needed help identifying whether a caller spoke Somali or Oromo before they could bring in the right translator.
African Communities Warn Language Issues Could Shut Them Out of Redistricting|Maya Srikrishnan|February 10, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Today, a startup that is building tools to make it easier for emergency response teams to do their jobs by providing them with more immediate data about callers and their circumstances, is announcing a big round of funding as it continues to grow.
RapidSOS raises $85M for a big data platform aimed at emergency responders|Ingrid Lunden|February 9, 2021|TechCrunch

At the meeting in which a new City Council had to choose between the two, hundreds of callers spent hours effusively praising Montgomery Steppe and, sometimes viciously, excoriating Campbell.
What’s Behind the Effort to Recall Council President Jen Campbell|Scott Lewis|February 9, 2021|Voice of San Diego
Should the caller have the temerity to ask where they were, the phone call would be quietly ended.
The Bookstore That Bewitched Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Greta Garbo|Felice Picano|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Caller: “He has a gray, gray coat with black sleeves and gray pants on.”
The Cleveland Cops Who Fired 137 Shots and Cried Victim|Michael Daly|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So what piece could have so passionately enraged this caller that I was marked for death?
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat|Annie Gaus|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The caller mentioned my work, which focused primarily on consumer products, mobile apps, emerging start-ups, and web trends.
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat|Annie Gaus|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Your first telephoned rape and death threat from a strange caller.
A Female Writer’s New Milestone: Her First Death Threat|Annie Gaus|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Never keep a caller waiting whilst you make an elaborate toilette.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
A caller at the home of Mlle. Cormon, and afterwards at that of M. du Bousquier, who married "the old maid."
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
Having escorted his illustrious caller to the outer door, he took his leave with a respectful bow.
Balsamo, The Magician|Alexander Dumas
The caller hauled a plug of tobacco from his pocket, gnawed off a chew, and began slow wagging of his jaws.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day
The caller pointed to the dim bulk of a small island which the cove held between the bold jaws of its headland.
Blow The Man Down|Holman Day

British Dictionary definitions for caller (1 of 2)

caller¹

/ (ˈkɔːlə) /

noun

a person or thing that calls, esp a person who makes a brief visit

Australian a racing commentator

British Dictionary definitions for caller (2 of 2)

caller²

/ (ˈkælə); (Scottish ˈkælər, ˈkɒlər) /

adjective Scot

(of food, esp fish) fresh

coola caller breeze

Word Origin for caller

C14: perhaps a Scottish variant of calver to prepare fresh salmon or trout in a certain way; perhaps from Old English calwer curds, from a fancied resemblance with the flaked flesh of the fish

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

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caller

noun