DIALLING

a plate, disk, face, or other surface containing markings or figures upon which the time of day is indicated by hands, pointers, or shadows, as of a clock or sundial.

a plate or disk with markings or figures for indicating or registering some measurement or number, as of pressure, number of revolutions, the frequency to which a radio is tuned, etc., usually by means of a pointer.

a rotatable plate, disk, or knob used for regulating a mechanism, making and breaking electrical connections, etc., as in tuning a radio or television station in or out.

Also called rotary dial. a rotatable plate or disk on a telephone, fitted with finger holes that are marked with letters or numbers, used in making calls through an automatic switchboard.

any mechanism on the face of a telephone by which the caller places a call, as push buttons.

to indicate or register on or as if on a dial.

to measure with or as if with a dial.

to regulate, select, or tune in by means of a dial, as on a radio: to dial my favorite program.

to make a telephone call to: Dial me at home.

to use a telephone dial; to dial a telephone: I keep dialing, but the line seems dead.

to tune in or regulate by means of a dial: to dial into the opera broadcast.

(of a telephone) having a rotary dial mechanism.