radiotelephone

American  

[rey-dee-oh-tel-uh-fohn] / ˌreɪ di oʊˈtɛl əˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a telephone in which sound or speech is transmitted by means of radio waves instead of through wires or cables. RT

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verb (used with or without object)

radiotelephoned, radiotelephoning

1. to telephone by radiotelephony.

radiotelephone British  

/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˌtɛlɪˈfɒnɪk, ˌreɪdɪəʊtɪˈlɛfənɪ, ˌreɪdɪəʊˈtɛlɪˌfəʊn /

noun

1. Also called: radiophone.   wireless telephone.  a device for communication by means of radio waves rather than by transmitting along wires or cables

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verb

1. to telephone (a person) by radiotelephone

Other Word Forms

• radiotelephonic
  adjective
• radiotelephony
  noun

Etymology

Origin of radiotelephone

First recorded in 1905–10; radio- + telephone

Example Sentences

“We can clearly see the name of the ship Hangong Yu 303,” he said into a radiotelephone, reading out its coordinates on the ship’s bridge.

From The Guardian • Oct. 21, 2020

The ceremonial aspect continued with the raising of the American flag and a radiotelephone conversation with President Richard Nixon.

From The Guardian • Aug. 26, 2012

He directed the drafting of a new constitution himself and, with the aid of $30 million in U.S. aid, built schools, roads and a radiotelephone network.

From Time Magazine Archive

A force of 400 Zambian chauffeurs-in-training tooled around Lusaka in a fleet of 120 VIP cars, each equipped with a radiotelephone.

From Time Magazine Archive

Another jet was scrambled and this time Stringfield, via a radiotelephone hookup to the airplane, gave the pilot a vector.

From The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects by Ruppelt, Edward J.

Related Words

• transmission
• wireless