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

Half of UK adults are now regularly paying for things by tapping their phone, new banking data suggests.

From BBC

He is now at the helm of a £564m UK empire selling a host of big and small household appliances from TVs, laptops and phones, to fridge freezers, washing machines, kettles and toasters.

From BBC

In May I found myself phoning the care home to ask if there were any cleaning jobs going.

From BBC

These are people who always have phone in their hand, because that phone is constantly telling you if you’re a good person or you’re a bad person.

From Los Angeles Times

“I feel a special place in my heart with P1Harmony,” she says when reached by phone.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• call up 
• contact 
• dial