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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
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.
5.
any mechanism on the face of a telephone by which the caller places a call, as push buttons.
6.
Also called miner's dial.Mining. a compass used for underground surveying.
–verb (used with object)
7.
to indicate or register on or as if on a dial.
8.
to measure with or as if with a dial.
9.
to regulate, select, or tune in by means of a dial, as on a radio: to dial my favorite program.
10.
to make a telephone call to: Dial me at home.
–verb (used without object)
11.
to use a telephone dial; to dial a telephone: I keep dialing, but the line seems dead.
12.
to tune in or regulate by means of a dial: to dial into the opera broadcast.
–adjective
13.
(of a telephone) having a rotary dial mechanism.
—Verb phrase
14.
dial up, to obtain, reach, or contact by telephone: to dial up stock-market information; to dial up Chicago and do some business.
Origin: 1400–50; late ME: instrument for telling time by the sun's shadow, presumably < ML diālis daily (L di(ēs) day + -ālis-al1)
A graduated surface or face on which a measurement, such as speed, is indicated by a moving needle or pointer.
The face of a clock.
A sundial.
The panel or face on a radio or television receiver on which the frequencies or channels are indicated.
A movable control knob or other device on a radio or television receiver used to change the frequency.
The panel or face on a radio or television receiver on which the frequencies or channels are indicated.
A movable control knob or other device on a radio or television receiver used to change the frequency.
A rotatable disk on a telephone with numbers and letters, used to signal the number to which a call is made.
v.
di·aled or di·alled, di·al·ing or di·al·ling, di·als
v.
tr.
To measure with or as if with a dial.
To point to, indicate, or register by means of a dial.
To control or select by means of a dial: dial a radio station.
To call (a party) on a telephone.
To signal (a number) in making a telephone call: The program dials the number and then connects to the file server.
v.
intr.
To use a dial.
To use a telephone.
[Middle English, sundial, clock, from Old French dyal, from Medieval Latin diāle, from neuter of diālis, daily, from Latin diēs, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.] di'al·er n.
[dahy-uh-ler, dahy-ler] 
l, dahyl]