telephone
Bell's famous invention
A telephone is a device that transmits voice over distance, converting sound into electrical signals and back again.
The word is often shortened to phone.
As a verb, to telephone someone is to call them: I'll telephone you tomorrow.
The landline telephone has largely given way to mobile phones, but the word persists in compounds like telephone pole and telephone number.
Graduated circular indicator
- ringClosed curve shape
- busyActively occupied with tasks
- holdMaintain in grasp
- hang upEnd telephone conversation
answer · voicemail · callback · long-distance · conference call · cold call · missed call · caller ID
Involving circular motion
- dialGraduated circular indicator
- operatorOne who works machinery
- switchboardTelephone routing panel
- party lineOfficial political position
bakelite · crank · candlestick phone · bell · Alexander Graham Bell · exchange · cord · phone box
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- landlineStationary wired telephone
- cordlessWithout attached wiring
- rotaryInvolving circular motion
keypad · cradle · touchtone · corded · payphone · intercom · answering machine · base station
Telephone routing panel
- operatorOne who works machinery
- extensionAdded part or duration
- lineContinuous mark or queue
- trunk linePrimary transport or communication route
exchange · PBX · directory · area code · country code · toll-free · hotline · party line
dial
Graduated circular indicator
hang up · answer · voicemail · callback · long-distance · conference call · cold call · missed call · caller ID · call waiting
rotary
Involving circular motion
- dialGraduated circular indicator
- operatorOne who works machinery
- switchboardTelephone routing panel
party line · bakelite · crank · candlestick phone · bell · Alexander Graham Bell · exchange · cord · phone box · speaking tube
handset
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- landlineStationary wired telephone
- cordlessWithout attached wiring
rotary · keypad · cradle · touchtone · corded · payphone · intercom · answering machine · base station · phone jack
switchboard
Telephone routing panel
trunk line · exchange · PBX · directory · area code · country code · toll-free · hotline · party line · routing
ringtone
Phone's incoming call sound
chime · alert · tone · silent · notification · jingle · melody · polyphonic · ringer · sound
- communicationconversation, inform, hand signal, messages, dialogue
- communicationsannouncement, address, phone, key messages, briefing
- Innovationselectricity, steam engine, printing press, automobile, internet
- objectsbasket, bowl, bucket, jar, jug
- party gamescharades, musical statues, musical chairs, truth or dare, spin the bottle
- produits de consommationaliment, medicament, parfum, dentifrice, detergent
telephoneface-to-face
Direct personal encounter
in person · letter · written correspondence · mail · text message
- telephone numberCode to connect calls
- telephone poleTall post carrying wires
- telephone callSpoken exchange via handset
- telephone lineWired voice transmission channel
- telephone boothEnclosed public payphone station
- telephone bookPublished listing of subscribers
telephoned, telephones, telephone call, telephoning, telephone book, telephone booth, telephony, telephonic, telephonist