phone

¹

[fohn]

noun

1. telephone.

2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

verb (used with object)

phoned, phoning 

1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.

2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

phoned, phoning 

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone

²

[fohn]

noun

Phonetics.

1. a speech sound.

   There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

-phone

³

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

-phone

¹

combining form

1. (forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound

   microphone

   telephone

2. (forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language

   Francophone

phone

²

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

phone

³

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

Other Word Forms

• phonal adjective
• -phonic combining form

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone¹

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Origin of phone²

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

Origin of phone³

phone ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone¹

from Greek phōnē voice, sound

Origin of phone²

C19: from Greek phōnē sound, voice

Example Sentences

Embaló phoned up French TV station France 24 and said: "I have been deposed."

Read more on BBC

“I wanted her to stay,” Mr. Harkins says in a phone call.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many other residents similarly got phone calls from friends or relatives who learned of the fire on the news and called or texted to alert them to what was happening outside.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Fung last spoke to her at noon on the day of the fire, but another phone call three hours later went unanswered.

Read more on Barron's

When his messages didn’t appear on my phone, I felt a sense of emptiness that only he was able to fill.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• call up 
• contact 
• dial