dialling tone
Phone line hum
A dialling tone is the continuous sound a telephone produces when lifted off the hook, indicating the line is ready for a call to be placed.
The spelling is British; Americans write *dial tone*.
With mobile phones replacing landlines, the sound has become increasingly unfamiliar to younger generations.
Actively occupied with tasks
- engagedPledged to marry
- ringbackAudible connection signal
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- landlineStationary wired telephone
handset · cordless · rotary · keypad · operator · switchboard · exchange · subscriber
Short electronic tone
- pulseArterial blood throb
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- audioTransmitted sound content
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
waveform · modulation · hertz · pitch · continuous · intermittent · acoustic · carrier
State of awaiting something
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- promptIncite to action
- standbyReady substitute awaiting use
- idleWithout activity or purpose
cue · invitation · expectancy · hold · listening
busy
Actively occupied with tasks
landline · handset · cordless · rotary · keypad · operator · switchboard · exchange · subscriber · extension
beep
Short electronic tone
sound · waveform · modulation · hertz · pitch · continuous · intermittent · acoustic · carrier · amplitude
anticipation
State of awaiting something
idle · cue · invitation · expectancy · hold · listening
line
Continuous mark or queue
open · live · circuit · network · link · establish · initiate · outgoing · incoming · access