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Definition of phone - 7 dictionary results

phone

1[fohn]
–noun, verb (used with object), verb (used without object), phoned, phon⋅ing.
telephone.

Origin:
1880–85; by shortening

phone

2[fohn]
–noun Phonetics.
a speech sound: There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”
Compare allophone, phoneme.


Origin:
1865–70; < Gk phōn voice


phonal, adjective

-phone

a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone).

Origin:
see phone 2

tel⋅e⋅phone

[tel-uh-fohn] noun, verb, -phoned, -phon⋅ing.
–noun
1. an apparatus, system, or process for transmission of sound or speech to a distant point, esp. by an electric device.
–verb (used with object)
2. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
3. to send (a message) by telephone.
–verb (used without object)
4. to send a message by telephone.
Also, phone.


Origin:
1825–35; tele- 1 + -phone


tel⋅e⋅phon⋅er, noun
phone 1   (fōn)   
n.  A telephone.
v.   phoned, phon·ing, phones

v.   intr.
To telephone.
v.   tr.
  1. To get in touch with by telephone.
  2. To impart (information or news, for example) by telephone.
  3. To make a telephone call to (a specific number): Phone 411 for directory assistance.

[Short for telephone.]
phone 2   (fōn)   
n.  A speech sound considered without reference to its status as a phoneme or an allophone in a language.

[Greek phōnē, sound, voice; see bhā-2 in Indo-European roots.]

phone  (n.)
1884, shortening of telephone. The verb is attested from 1889, from the noun. Phone book first recorded 1925; phone booth 1927.
Language Translation for : phone
Spanish: teléfono,
German: das Telefon,
Japanese: 電話
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