rotary dial
Numbered phone circle
A rotary dial is the circular numbered interface on older telephones, used before push-button phones became standard.
To dial a number, you insert a finger into the hole above each digit and rotate the dial clockwise until your finger hits the stop, then release; the dial returns at a speed that generates electrical pulses corresponding to that digit.
My grandmother still has a phone with a rotary dial.
The phrase dial a number persists even though actual dialing is now obsolete.
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- cordFlexible twisted strand
- switchhookPhone disconnection mechanism
- operatorOne who works machinery
exchange · party line · area code · long distance · Bell · candlestick phone · wall phone · desk phone
Arterial blood throb
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- ratchetToothed one-way mechanism
- governorState's chief executive
click · tension · spindle · detent · stop · pawl · contact · switch
Rotating circular frame
spin · circle · clockwise · counterclockwise · sweep · return · spring-loaded
Evoking recent past
- vintageQuality from past eras
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- analogComparable equivalent
- classicOf lasting excellence
old-fashioned · bygone · memories · yesteryear · heirloom · collectible · mid-century · grandmother's house
handset
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- cordFlexible twisted strand
- switchhookPhone disconnection mechanism
operator · exchange · party line · area code · long distance · Bell · candlestick phone · wall phone · desk phone · cradle
pulse
Arterial blood throb
- mechanismMeans by which something operates
- springRecoiling metal spiral
- ratchetToothed one-way mechanism
governor · click · tension · spindle · detent · stop · pawl · contact · switch · cam
wheel
Rotating circular frame
revolve · spin · circle · clockwise · counterclockwise · sweep · return · spring-loaded
retro
Evoking recent past
classic · old-fashioned · bygone · memories · yesteryear · heirloom · collectible · mid-century · grandmother's house · obsolete
- telephonytelephone, telephone network, call, phone lines, phone booth
- controlsbutton, switch, knob, lever, slider
- dials
- manual controlsmanual, hand-operated, lever, handle, button
- obsolete techfloppy disk, VHS, cassette tape, floppy disks, Betamax
- phone servicesvoicemail, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, call blocking
rotary dialtouchscreen
Input-sensitive display panel
keypad · push-button · touch-tone · numeric keypad · voice activation
rotary dialsmartphone
Handheld connected computer
cellular · wireless · iPhone · digital phone · mobile phone
dial, rotate, rotation, dials, rotating, rotated, dialed, rotary, dialing