intercom

American  

[in-ter-kom] / ˈɪn tərˌkɒm /

noun

1. a communication system within a building, ship, airplane, local area, etc., with a loudspeaker or receiver for listening and a microphone for speaking at each of two or more points.

2. a microphone or receiver of such a communication system.

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intercom British  

/ ˈɪntəˌkɒm /

noun

1. informal an internal telephone system for communicating within a building, an aircraft, etc

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Etymology

Origin of intercom

First recorded in 1935–40; by shortening

Example Sentences

This month, the security company Verkada, which sells cameras, alarms and intercoms, announced it raised capital at a $5.8 billion valuation.

From The Wall Street Journal

Everyone jumps a bit as the intercom box on the wall squawks to life and we hear the high-pitched voice of Mrs. Dithers, the administrative assistant.

From Literature

“Attention. We have been robbed by an aboatia, a girl wielding a sword purchased from Amazon, a rogue Queen Mother, and a young man with terrible fashion sense,” Tano’s voice sounds over the intercoms.

From Literature

He was trying to contact the guards using an intercom when the tsunami flooded in.

From Literature

“I’m worried about this section. They’re not gonna suddenly cut to it,” Bailey said just before a clip of his tape played, which included the interruption on the theater’s intercom.

From Los Angeles Times

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