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phone

1
[ fohn ]
/ foʊn /
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noun
a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.
verb (used with object), phoned, phon·ing.
to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
to send (a message) by telephone.
verb (used without object), phoned, phon·ing.
to send a message by telephone.
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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

Origin of phone

1
First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Other definitions for phone (2 of 3)

phone2
[ fohn ]
/ foʊn /

noun Phonetics.
a speech sound: There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”
Compare allophone, phoneme.

Origin of phone

2
First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phƍnᾗ voice

OTHER WORDS FROM phone

phonal, adjective

Other definitions for phone (3 of 3)

-phone

a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone).

Origin of -phone

see origin at phone2
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use phone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for phone (1 of 3)

phone1
/ (fəʊn) /

noun, verb
short for telephone

British Dictionary definitions for phone (2 of 3)

phone2
/ (fəʊn) /

noun
phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

Word Origin for phone

C19: from Greek phƍnē sound, voice

British Dictionary definitions for phone (3 of 3)

-phone

combining form
(forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off soundmicrophone; telephone
(forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular languageFrancophone

Derived forms of -phone

-phonic, adj combining form

Word Origin for -phone

from Greek phƍnē voice, sound
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
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