cell phone

Or cell·phone

[sel-fohn]

noun

Telecommunications.

1. a wireless telephone using a system of low-powered radio transmitters, with each transmitter covering a distinct geographical area cell, and computer equipment to switch a call from one area to another, thus enabling broad-scale portable phone service.

2. such a wireless telephone that has other functions, as text messaging or internet access.

3. mobile phone.

cell phone

1. A portable telephone that uses wireless cellular technology to send and receive phone signals. This technology works by dividing the Earth into small regions called cells. Within each cell the wireless telephone signal goes over its assigned bandwidth to a cell tower, which relays the signal to a telephone switching network, connecting the user to the desired party.

The proximity to a cell tower is often the key to good reception when using a cell phone.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cell phone¹

First recorded in 1980–85; cell(ular) ( def. ) + phone ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The lucky ones had been able to reach their loved ones by cell phone before the tsunami struck.

Read more on Literature

His saleswoman, Veronica Grinstein, called him on her cell phone, which is what she did when she wanted to talk without being recorded.

Read more on Literature

A lot of your stand-up reassesses the world we live in, like your bits about the miracle of air travel or cell phones.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

About 400,000 people in Jamaica were without power as of Friday, and an untold number more have no access to cell phone service or Wi-Fi, cut off from the outside world.

Read more on BBC

Along with the unusable roads making travel difficult, there is little to no cell phone service and no electricity or running water in many hard-hit spots.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cellular phone www.thesaurus.com
• wireless telephone