telephone book

noun

1. a book, directory, or the like, usually containing an alphabetical list of telephone subscribers in a city or other area, together with their addresses and telephone numbers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of telephone book¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Carolyn Bennett remembers flipping through a yellow telephone book in the 1980s to find carpet stores and workers who refinished wood to help renovate her home.

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She holds on to her husband’s possessions — his telephone book and wallet — as if they were jewels.

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One even decorated the cover of the telephone book in Fortaleza where the artist — known simply as Chico — lived and established a pioneering and controversial collective studio practice.

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As he scoured telephone books and newspaper obituary pages, Nobleman tracked down some of Finger’s relatives, including a niece who informed him that Fred had in fact married a woman.

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I delivered telephone books on King Street when I was a kid; I pulled a little wagon.

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Related Words

• directory 
• phone book 
• yellow pages