dial-up

[dahy-uhl-uhp, dahyl-]

adjective

Computers.

1. relating to or denoting a type of computer data transmission encoded in audio format and transmitted through a telephone call to an internet service provider.

   A dial-up connection to the internet is too slow to play most online video games.

Word History and Origins

Origin of dial-up¹

First recorded in 1960–65; adjective use of verb phrase dial up