DIAL

dial

(noun) the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours

dial, telephone dial

(noun) a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called

dial

(noun) the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments

dial

(noun) the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning

dial

(verb) choose by means of a dial; “dial a telephone number”

dial

(verb) operate a dial to select a telephone number; “You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Proper noun

Dial (plural Dials)

A surname.

Anagrams

• Dail, Dali, dali, laid

Etymology

Noun

dial (plural dials)

A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).

A clock face.

A sundial.

A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.

A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.

(UK, AU, slang) A person's face. [from 19th c.]

A miner's compass.

Verb

dial (third-person singular simple present dials, present participle dialling or (US) dialing, simple past and past participle dialled or (US) dialed)

(transitive) To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.

(transitive) To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone.

(intransitive) To use a dial or a telephone.

Usage notes

• Dialing and dialed are more common in the US. Dialling and dialled are more common elsewhere.

Anagrams

• Dail, Dali, dali, laid

Source: Wiktionary


Di"al, n. Etym: [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]

1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.

3. A miner's compass. Dial bird (Zoöl.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species.

– Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated.

– Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.

Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.]

1. To measure with a dial. Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven. Talfourd.

2. (Mining)

Definition: To survey with a dial. Raymond.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

22 December 2024

SUNGLASSES

(noun) (plural) spectacles that are darkened or polarized to protect the eyes from the glare of the sun; “he was wearing a pair of mirrored shades”


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