dial

[ dahy-uhl, dahyl ]
See synonyms for dial on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a plate, disk, face, or other surface containing markings or figures upon which the time of day is indicated by hands, pointers, or shadows, as of a clock or sundial.

  2. a plate or disk with markings or figures for indicating or registering some measurement or number, as of pressure, number of revolutions, the frequency to which a radio is tuned, etc., usually by means of a pointer.

  1. a rotatable plate, disk, or knob used for regulating a mechanism, making and breaking electrical connections, etc., as in tuning a radio or television station in or out.

  2. Also called ro·ta·ry di·al [roh-tuh-ree dahy-uhl, dahyl]. /ˈroʊ tə ri ˌdaɪ əl, ˌdaɪl/. a rotatable plate or disk on a telephone, fitted with finger holes that are marked with letters or numbers, used in making calls through an automatic switchboard.

  3. any mechanism on the face of a telephone by which the caller places a call, as push buttons.

  4. Also called min·er's di·al [mahy-nerz dahy-uhl, dahyl]. /ˈmaɪ nərz ˌdaɪ əl, ˌdaɪl/. Mining. a compass used for underground surveying.

verb (used with object),di·aled, di·al·ing or (especially British) di·alled, di·al·ling.
  1. to enter or input (a number) on a telephone, as by means of a touchscreen, push buttons, or a rotary dial: I dialed your work number by mistake.

  2. to make a telephone call to: You can dial the Telehealth hotline for advice from a nurse.

  1. to regulate, select, or tune in by means of a dial, as on a radio: She reached over to dial an FM station.

  2. to indicate or register on or as if on a dial.

  3. to measure with or as if with a dial.

verb (used without object),di·aled, di·al·ing or (especially British) di·alled, di·al·ling.
  1. to enter or input a number on a telephone, as by means of a touchscreen, push buttons, or a rotary dial: I keep dialing, but she's not picking up.

  2. to use a dial to regulate or make a selection: Dial through the program settings on the washer to find the one that suits your load.

adjective
  1. (of a telephone) having a rotary dial mechanism.

Verb Phrases
  1. dial down, to reduce the level of; diminish: Such open threats of military action make it more difficult to dial down tensions.

  2. dial up,

    • to obtain, reach, or contact by telephone:Now's your chance to dial up Chicago and do some business.

    • to access a computer, the internet, or another network by dialing a telephone number.

    • to increase the level of; intensify: I used cayenne, garlic, oregano, thyme, and pepper to dial up the flavor.

Origin of dial

1
First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English dial, diel,dyal “instrument for telling time by the sun's shadow,” from Old French dyal, from Medieval Latin diālis “daily” (Latin di(ēs) ) “day” + -ālis adjective suffix; cf. -al1)

Other words from dial

  • un·di·aled, adjective
  • un·di·alled, adjective

Words Nearby dial

Other definitions for dial. (2 of 2)

dial.

abbreviation
  1. dialect.

  2. dialectal.

  1. dialectic.

  2. dialectical.

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

How to use dial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dial (1 of 2)

dial

/ (ˈdaɪəl, daɪl) /


noun
  1. the face of a watch, clock, chronometer, sundial, etc, marked with divisions representing units of time

  2. the circular graduated disc of various measuring instruments

    • the control on a radio or television set used to change the station or channel

    • the panel on a radio on which the frequency, wavelength, or station is indicated by means of a pointer

  1. a numbered disc on a telephone that is rotated a set distance for each digit of a number being called

  2. a miner's compass for surveying in a mine

  3. British a slang word for face (def. 1)

verbdials, dialling or dialled or US dials, dialing or dialed
  1. to establish or try to establish a telephone connection with (a subscriber or his number) by operating the dial on a telephone

  2. (tr) to indicate, measure, or operate with a dial

Origin of dial

1
C14: from Medieval Latin diālis daily, from Latin diēs day

Derived forms of dial

  • dialler, noun

British Dictionary definitions for dial. (2 of 2)

dial.

abbreviation for
  1. dialect(al)

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