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

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

The full manual approach only really works on the main 12-megapixel sensor, which is of a higher quality than either the wide or tele sensor.

From The Verge • Jul. 13, 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

The first part of this word is the same Greek adverb tele that is found in telegraph.

From Great Inventions and Discoveries by Piercy, Willis Duff