dial

[ dahy-uhl, dahyl ]

/ ˈdaɪ əl, daɪl /

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noun

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

(of a telephone) having a rotary dial mechanism.

Verb Phrases

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

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.

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Origin of dial

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, adjectiveun·di·alled, adjective

Other definitions for dial (2 of 2)

dial.

abbreviation

dialect.

dialectal.

dialectic.

dialectical.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use dial in a sentence

In January 2013, the TRN group filed a second complaint in the Dial Global suit, demanding a jury trial.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cumulus Media, which now owns the former Dial Global, declined to comment on the suit for this story.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This suspension, Masters said, had been forced upon ARNN by the Dial Global lawsuit.
The Godfather of Right-Wing Radio|Caitlin Dickson|November 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Queen sent her first email at an RAF base in 1976 and she made the first direct-dial trunk call from the UK in 1958.
One Has Tweeted!|Tom Sykes|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

All a thief had to do was take off the dial knob on the safe and place the little joker on inside of it.
The High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s|J. North Conway|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yes,” said he, at length, “it works very well; but you have got the figures on the dial wrong.
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
The second hand wiped over the "20" of the smaller dial, jittered on toward the half-minute spot.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
On the front of the house was an ancient sun-dial, and across it, in antique letters, the legend "Time will show."
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
He turned a dial to the words: "News Service—General," and the instrument broke into hurried speech.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various
He pointed to a needle that was moving with slow certainty and deadly persistence across a graduated dial.
Astounding Stories, May, 1931|Various

British Dictionary definitions for dial (1 of 2)

dial

/ (ˈdaɪəl, daɪl) /

noun

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

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

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

a miner's compass for surveying in a mine

British a slang word for face (def. 1)

verb dials, dialling or dialled or US dials, dialing or dialed

to establish or try to establish a telephone connection with (a subscriber or his number) by operating the dial on a telephone

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

Derived forms of dial

dialler, noun

Word Origin for dial

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

British Dictionary definitions for dial (2 of 2)

dial.

abbreviation for

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

dial

Origin of dial

OTHER WORDS FROM dial

Other definitions for dial (2 of 2)

Words related to dial

How to use dial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dial (1 of 2)

Derived forms of dial

Word Origin for dial

British Dictionary definitions for dial (2 of 2)