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call off

 - 7 dictionary results

call

  [kawl]
–verb (used with object)
1. to cry out in a loud voice; shout: He called her name to see if she was home.
2. to command or request to come; summon: to call a dog; to call a cab; to call a witness.
3. to ask or invite to come: Will you call the family to dinner?
4. to communicate or try to communicate with by telephone: Call me when you arrive.
5. to rouse from sleep, as by a call; waken: Call me at eight o'clock.
6. to read over (a roll or a list) in a loud voice.
7. to convoke or convene: to call Congress into session.
8. to announce authoritatively; proclaim: to call a halt.
9. to order into effect; establish: to call a strike.
10. to schedule: to call a rehearsal.
11. to summon by or as if by divine command: He felt called to the ministry.
12. to summon to an office, duty, etc.: His country called him to the colors.
13. to cause to come; bring: to call to mind; to call into existence.
14. to bring under consideration or discussion: The judge called the case to court.
15. to attract or lure (birds or animals) by imitating characteristic sounds.
16. to direct or attract (attention): He called his roommate's attention to the mess.
17. to name or address (someone) as: His parents named him James, but the boys call him Jim.
18. to designate as something specified: He called me a liar.
19. to think of as something specified; consider; estimate: I call that a mean remark.
20. to demand of (someone) that he or she fulfill a promise, furnish evidence for a statement, etc.: They called him on his story.
21. to criticize adversely; express disapproval of; censure: She called him on his vulgar language.
22. to demand payment or fulfillment of (a loan).
23. to demand presentation of (bonds) for redemption.
24. to forecast correctly: He has called the outcome of the last three elections.
25. Sports. (of an official)
a. to pronounce a judgment on (a shot, pitch, batter, etc.): The umpire called the pitch a strike.
b. to put an end to (a contest) because of inclement weather, poor field conditions, etc.: A sudden downpour forced the umpire to call the game.
26. Pool. to name (the ball) one intends to drive into a particular pocket.
27. (in a computer program) to transfer control of to a procedure or subroutine.
28. Cards.
a. to demand (a card).
b. to demand the display of a hand by (a player).
c. Poker. to equal (a bet) or equal the bet made by (the preceding bettor) in a round.
d. Bridge. to signal one's partner for a lead of (a certain card or suit).
–verb (used without object)
29. to speak loudly, as to attract attention; shout; cry: She called to the children.
30. to make a short visit; stop at a place on some errand or business: She called at the store for the package.
31. to telephone or try to telephone a person: He promised to call at noon.
32. Cards.
a. to demand a card.
b. to demand a showing of hands.
c. Poker. to equal a bet.
d. Bridge. to bid or pass.
33. (of a bird or animal) to utter its characteristic cry.
–noun
34. a cry or shout.
35. the cry or vocal sound of a bird or other animal.
36. an instrument for imitating this cry and attracting or luring an animal: He bought a duck call.
37. an act or instance of telephoning: She went into a telephone booth to place her call.
38. a short visit: to make a call on someone.
39. a summons or signal sounded by a bugle, bell, etc.: We live so close to the fort that we can hear the bugle calls.
40. a summons, invitation, or bidding: The students gathered at the call of the dean.
41. a calling of a roll; roll call.
42. the fascination or appeal of a given place, vocation, etc.: the call of the sea.
43. a mystic experience of divine appointment to a vocation or service: He had a call to become a minister.
44. a request or invitation to become pastor of a church, a professor in a university, etc.
45. a need or occasion: He had no call to say such outrageous things.
46. a demand or claim: to make a call on a person's time.
47. a demand for payment of an obligation, esp. where payment is at the option of the creditor.
48. Cards.
a. a demand for a card or a showing of hands.
b. Poker. an equaling of the preceding bet.
c. Bridge. a bid or pass.
49. Sports. a judgment or decision by an umpire, a referee, or other official of a contest, as on a shot, pitch, or batter: The referees were making one bad call after another.
50. Theater.
a. a notice of rehearsal posted by the stage manager.
b. act call.
c. curtain call.
51. Dance. a figure or direction in square dancing, announced to the dancers by the caller.
52. Also called call option. Finance. an option that gives the right to buy a fixed amount of a particular stock at a predetermined price within a given period of time, purchased by a person who believes the price will rise. Compare put (def. 24).
53. Fox Hunting. any of several cries, or sounds made on a horn by the hunter to encourage the hounds.
—Verb phrases
54. call away, to cause to leave or go; summon: A death in the family called him away.
55. call back,
a. to summon or bring back; recall: He called back the messenger. The actor was called back for a second audition.
b. to revoke; retract: to call back an accusation.
56. call down,
a. to request or pray for; invoke: to call down the wrath of God.
b. to reprimand; scold: The boss called us down for lateness.
57. call for,
a. to go or come to get; pick up; fetch.
b. to request; summon.
c. to require; demand; need: The occasion calls for a cool head.
58. call forth, to summon into action; bring into existence: to call forth her courage and resolve.
59. call in,
a. to call for payment; collect.
b. to withdraw from circulation: to call in gold certificates.
c. to call upon for consultation; ask for help: Two specialists were called in to assist in the operation.
d. to inform or report by telephone: Did he call in his decision this morning?
e. to participate in a radio or television program by telephone.
60. call in or into question. question (def. 17).
61. call off,
a. to distract; take away: Please call off your dog.
b. to cancel (something) that had been planned for a certain date: The performance was called off because of rain.
62. call on or upon,
a. to ask; appeal to: They called on him to represent them.
b. to visit for a short time: to call on friends.
63. call out,
a. to speak in a loud voice; shout.
b. to summon into service or action: Call out the militia!
c. to bring out; elicit: The emergency called out her hidden abilities.
d. to direct attention to with a callout: to call out each detail in an illustration.
e. Informal. to challenge to a fight.
64. call up,
a. to bring forward for consideration or discussion.
b. to cause to remember; evoke.
c. to communicate or try to communicate with by telephone.
d. to summon for action or service: A large number of Army reservists were called up.
e. Computers. to summon (information) from a computer system for display on a video screen: She called up the full text.
—Idioms
65. call in sick. sick 1 (def. 14).
66. call to order. order (def. 48).
67. on call,
a. payable or subject to return without advance notice.
b. readily available for summoning upon short notice.
68. take a call, to acknowledge the applause of the audience after a performance by appearing for a bow or a curtain call.
69. within call, within distance or range of being spoken to or summoned: Please stay within call.
Use call off in a Sentence
Origin:
1200–50; late ME callen, prob. < ON kalla to call out, conflated with OE (West Saxon) ceallian to shout; c. MD kallen to talk, OHG kallôn to shout, akin to OE -calla herald, Ir gall swan, OCS glasŭ voice

Synonyms:
2, 3, 12. Call, invite, summon imply requesting the presence or attendance of someone at a particular place. Call is the general word: to call a meeting. To invite is to ask someone courteously to come as a guest, a participant, etc., leaving the person free to refuse: to invite guests to a concert; to invite them to contribute to a fund. Summon implies sending for someone, using authority or formality in making the request and (theoretically) not leaving the person free to refuse: to summon a witness, members of a committee, etc.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To call off
call   (kôl)   
v.   called, call·ing, calls

v.   tr.

  1. To say in a loud voice; announce: called my name from across the street; calling out numbers.

  2. To demand or ask for the presence of: called the children to dinner; call the police.

  3. To demand or ask for a meeting of; convene or convoke: call the legislature into session.

  4. To order or request to undertake a particular activity or work; summon: She was called for jury duty. He was called to the priesthood.

  5. To give the command for; order: call a work stoppage.

    1. To communicate or try to communicate with by telephone: called me at nine.

    2. To dial (a telephone number): call 911 for help.

    3. To demand payment of: call a loan.

    4. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.

    5. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.

    6. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    7. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    8. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    9. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    10. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    11. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  7. To lure (prey) by imitating the characteristic cry of an animal: call ducks.

  8. To cause to come to the mind or to attention: a story that calls to mind an incident in my youth.

  9. To name: What will you call the baby?

  10. To consider or regard as being of a particular type or kind; characterize: Let's call the game a draw. I'd hardly call him a good manager.

  11. To designate; label: Nobody calls me a liar.

    1. To demand payment of: call a loan.

    2. To require the presentation of (a bond) for redemption before maturity.

    3. To force the sale of (a stock or commodity) by exercising a call option.

    4. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    5. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    6. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    7. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    8. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    9. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  13. Sports

    1. To stop or postpone (a game) because of bad weather, darkness, or other adverse conditions.

    2. To declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee: call a runner out; call a penalty for holding.

    3. To indicate a decision in regard to: calling balls and strikes; called a close play at home plate.

    4. To give the orders or signals for: a quarterback who called a poor play.

    5. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    6. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  14. Games

    1. To describe the intended outcome of (one's billiard shot) before playing.

    2. To equal the bet of (the preceding bet or bettor) in a poker game.

  15. To indicate or characterize accurately in advance; predict: It is often difficult to call the outcome of an election. See Synonyms at predict.

  16. To challenge the truthfulness or genuineness of: called the debater on a question of fact.

  17. To shout directions in rhythm for (a square dance).

v.   intr.

    1. To speak loudly; shout: a swimmer who was calling for help.

    2. To utter a characteristic cry. Used of an animal: geese calling in early morning.

  2. To communicate or try to communicate with someone by telephone: I called twice, but no one answered.

  3. To pay a short visit: We called to pay our respects. He called on the neighbors but they weren't home.

n.  

  1. A loud cry; a shout.

    1. The characteristic cry of an animal.

    2. A sound or an instrument made to imitate such a cry, used as a lure: a moose call.

    3. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.

    4. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.

    5. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    6. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    7. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    8. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    9. A demand for payment of a debt.

    10. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    11. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    12. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  3. A telephone communication or connection.

  4. Need or occasion: There was no call for an apology.

  5. Demand: There isn't much call for buggy whips today.

  6. A claim on a person's time or life: the call of duty.

  7. A short visit, especially one made as a formality or for business or professional purposes.

  8. A summons or invitation.

    1. A signal, such as that made by a horn or bell.

    2. The sounding of a horn to encourage hounds during a hunt.

    3. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    4. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    5. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    6. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    7. A demand for payment of a debt.

    8. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    9. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    10. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

    1. A strong inner urge or prompting; a vocation: a call to the priesthood.

    2. The strong attraction or appeal of a given activity or environment: the call of the wild; answered the call of the desert.

    3. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    4. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    5. A demand for payment of a debt.

    6. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    7. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    8. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  11. A roll call.

  12. A notice of rehearsal times posted in a theater.

  13. Sports

    1. A decision made by an umpire or referee.

    2. An announced description of a game or race, as by a sportscaster.

    3. A demand for payment of a debt.

    4. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    5. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    6. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  14. A direction or series of directions rhythmically called out to square dancers.

    1. A demand for payment of a debt.

    2. A demand to submit bonds to the issuer for redemption before the maturity date.

    3. An option to buy a certain quantity of a stock or commodity for a specified price within a specified time.

    4. A demand for payment due on stock bought on margin when the value has shrunk.

  16. To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.

  17. To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.

  18. To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.

  19. To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.

  20. To invoke, as from heaven.

  21. To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.

  22. To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.

  23. To require; demand: work that calls for patience.

  24. To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.

  25. To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.

  26. To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?

  27. To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.

  28. To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.

  29. To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.

  30. To challenge to a duel.

  31. To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.

  32. To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.

  33. To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.

  34. To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.

  35. To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.

Phrasal Verb(s):
call back

  1. To communicate the need for (someone) to return from one situation or location to a previous one: Management called the laid-off workers back.

  2. To telephone or radio (a person) who has called previously: I called her back at noon.

  3. To recall (a defective product) for repair: The company has called back all such models built in 1990.

call down

  1. To find fault with; reprimand: The teacher called me down for disobedience.

  2. To invoke, as from heaven.

call for

  1. To appear, as on someone else's premises, in order to get: My chauffeur will call for you at seven.

  2. To be an appropriate occasion for: This news calls for champagne.

  3. To require; demand: work that calls for patience.

call forthTo evoke; elicit: a love song that calls forth sad memories.
call in

  1. To take out of circulation: calling in silver dollars.

  2. To summon for assistance or consultation: call in a specialist.

  3. To communicate with another by telephone: Has the boss called in today?

call off

  1. To cancel or postpone: call off a trip; called the trip off.

  2. To restrain or recall: Call off your dogs.

call onTo order or request to undertake a particular activity: called on our friends to help.
call out

  1. To cause to assemble; summon: call out the guard.

  2. To challenge to a duel.

call up

  1. To summon to active military service: called up reserve troops for active duty.

  2. To cause one to remember; bring to mind: stories that call up old times.

  3. To bring forth for action or discussion; raise.

call upon

  1. To order; require: I call upon you to tell the truth.

  2. To make a demand or a series of demands on: Social institutions are now being called upon to provide assistance to the homeless.


Idiom(s):
call a spade a spadeTo speak directly, precisely, and forthrightly.

Idiom(s):
call in/into questionTo raise doubts about.

Idiom(s):
call it a day Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the day or at least for the present.

Idiom(s):
call it a night Informal To stop what one has been doing, for the remainder of the night.

Idiom(s):
call it quits Informal To stop working or trying; quit.

Idiom(s):
call namesTo speak to or about another in offensive terms.

Idiom(s):
call of natureA need to urinate or defecate. Often used with answer: He left the room to answer the call of nature.

Idiom(s):
call (someone's) bluffTo challenge another with a display of strength or confidence.

Idiom(s):
call the shots/tune Informal To exercise authority; be in charge.

Idiom(s):
on call

  1. Available when summoned for service or use: physicians who were on call for 48 hours.

  2. Subject to payment on demand.


Idiom(s):
within callClose enough to come if summoned: The nurse is within call if you need him.

[Middle English callen, probably from Old Norse kalla; see gal- in Indo-European roots.]
Synonyms: These verbs mean to demand or request to appear, come, or assemble: called a taxi; convened a meeting; will convoke the legislature; mustering the militia; summoned a witness.
Our Living Language  : African American Vernacular English (AAVE) uses call oneself with a present participle, as in They call themselves dancing, to express the idea that the people being talked about are not very good at what they're doing (in this example, dancing), even though they may think they are. This construction has a structure and meaning similar to the Standard English use of call oneself with a noun phrase or adjective, as in She calls herself intelligent or He calls himself a dancer.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
call

  1. n.
    a decision; a prediction. : The market behaved just as you said it would. Good call.
  2. tv.
    to challenge someone. : I called him, but he ignored me.
  3. n.
    the early effects of a drug; the beginning of a rush; a rush. (Drugs.) : You may not get the call on this stuff for twenty minutes or more.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

call  (v.)
O.E. ceallian, less common than clipian; replaced by O.N. kalla "to cry loudly," from P.Gmc. *kallojanan, from PIE base *gal- "to call, scream, shriek" (see calendar). Meaning "to give a name to" is c.1250. Meaning "to visit" (M.E.) was literally "to stand at the door and call;" sense of "a short formal visit" is from 1862; caller "visitor" is from 1786. Telephone/telegraph sense is from 1889 (hence slang call girl, c.1900, originally a prostitute dispatched by telephone). Coin-toss sense is from 1801. Calling "vocation" (1382) traces to I Cor. vii:20. To call out someone to fight (1823) corresponds to Fr. provoqueur. To call it a day is from 1834.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

call

To force an option writer to sell shares of stock at a price stipulated in a contract. Stocks usually are called just before the expiration of the options.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: call
Function: noun
1 : a demand for payment of money: as a : a notice by the U.S. Treasury to depositories to transfer part of its deposit balance to the Federal Reserve bank b : a notice to a stockholder or subscriber to pay an assessment or an installment of subscription to capital
2 : CALL OPTION at, OPTION
3 a : a formal announcement or recitation call of the motion calendar> b : ROLL CALL call of the house>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Idioms & Phrases

call off

  1. Summon away, restrain, as in Please call off your dog. [Early 1600s]

  2. Cancel some plan or undertaking, as in She decided to call off their engagement, or In case of rain the picnic will be called off. [Late 1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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