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• tele
  tele

  noun

  television.
• tele-
  tele-

  a combining form meaning “distant,” especially “transmission over a distance,” used in the formation of compound words.
• tele.
  tele.

  abbreviation

  television.
• tele–
  tele–

  A prefix that means “at a distance,” as in telemetry.

tele

¹ American  

[tel-ee] / ˈtɛl i /

Or telly

noun

British Informal.

1. television.

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tele- ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “distant,” especially “transmission over a distance,” used in the formation of compound words.

   telegraph.

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tele- ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “end,” “complete,” used in the formation of compound words.

   telestich.

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tele. ⁴ American  

abbreviation

1. television.

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tele- British  

combining form

1. at or over a distance; distant

   telescope

   telegony

   telekinesis

   telemeter

2. television

   telecast

3. by means of or via telephone or television

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tele– Scientific  

1. A prefix that means “at a distance,” as in telemetry.

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Etymology

Origin of tele¹

By shortening

Origin of tele-²

Combining form representing Greek têle far, akin to télos end ( see tele- ²)

Origin of tele-³

Combining form representing Greek télos end, and téleios perfected; akin to teleîn to fulfill

Example Sentences

"I didn't want to stay at home. The news was on the tele as well so I just wanted to get away from it all."

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2022

But the tele lens now features optical image stabilization.

From The Verge • Aug. 11, 2021

She figured with COVID-19’s protocols putting a crimp in the bachelor’s style, a face-to-face tele call would be just thing to help break the ice.

From Washington Times • Dec. 19, 2020

La vida secreta de seis mascotas y todo lo que hacen cuando sus dueños salen de la casa, desde mirar la tele hasta vaciar la heladera, queda al descubierto.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2019

Written in formal letters in French, in two columns, beginning on the second folio with the words ‘et porceque,’ and on the last with ‘en tele maniere.’

From Chips From A German Workshop. Vol. III. Essays on Literature, Biography, and Antiquities by Müller, F. Max (Friedrich Max)