phone

Universal Words noun, verb noun (also telephone) 1 [U,C] a system for talking to sb else over long distances using wires or radio; a machine used for this: I have to make a phone call. * The phone rang and Pat answered it. * They like to do business by phone / over the phone. * a phone bill seealsoCARPHONE, CELLULARPHONE, ENTRYPHONE, MOBILEPHONE, PAYPHONE 2 (also telephone) [C] the part of the telephone that you hold in your hand and speak into: to pick up the phone * to put the phone down * He left the phone off the hook as he didn't want to be disturbed. seealsoANSWERPHONE 3 (-phone) (in nouns) an instrument that uses or makes sound: dictaphone * xylophone 4 (-phone) (in adjectives and nouns) speaking a particular language; a person who does this: anglophone * francophone IDIOMS be on the phone 1 to be using the telephone: He's been on the phone to Kate for more than an hour. 2 (BrE) to have a telephone in your home or place of work: They're not on the phone at the holiday cottage. verb (especially BrE) (BrE also phone up) to make a telephone call to sb: [V] I was just phoning up for a chat. * He phoned to invite me out for dinner. * Someone phone for an ambulance! * Could you phone back later? * He phoned home, but there was no reply. * I'm phoning about your ad in the paper. * [VN] Don't forget to phone New York. * For reservations, phone 0171 281 3964. * Phone them up and find out when they are coming. PHRASALVERBS phone in (especially BrE) 1 to make a telephone call to the place where you work: [+ADJ] Three people have phoned in sick already this morning. 2 to make a telephone call to a radio or television station: Listeners are invited to phone in with their comments. relatednounPHONE-IN phone sth<->in (especially BrE) to make a telephone call to the place where you work in order to give sb some information: I need you to phone the story in before five. ______________________________ BRITISH/AMERICAN phone / call / ring Verbs In BrE, to phone, to ring and to call are the usual ways of saying to telephone. In AmE the most common word is call, but phone is also used. Speakers of AmE do not say ring. Telephone is very formal and is used mainly in BrE. Nouns You can use call or phone call (more formal) in both BrE and AmE: Were there any phone calls for me? * How do I make a local call? The idiom give sb a call is also common: I'll give you a call tonight. In informal BrE you could also say: I'll give you a ring tonight. ______________________________