Telephone

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈtÉ›lÉ™foÊŠn/

Origin

- + phone + -.

From French téléphone, from Ancient Greek τῆλε (tēle, "afar") + φωνή (phōnē, "voice, sound")

Full definition of telephone

Noun

1. An electronic device used for two-way talking with other people (often shortened to phone).
2. (US) Chinese whispers.
• 2013, October 27, Erik Adams, TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “The PTA Disbands”, And since the spring of 1995, no game of telephone has ended without some Simpsons-loving smart-ass dropping “purple monkey dishwasher” into the chain.

Synonyms

• blower, phone, farspeaker, Ameche slang, dog and bone slang, horn informal

Derived terms

Verb

1. To contact someone by dialing his or her telephone number; to make someone's telephone ring using one's own telephone.
• 1913, w, Lord Stranleigh Abroad Chapter 4, “I came down like a wolf on the fold, didn’t I ?  Why didn’t I telephone ?  Strategy, my dear boy, strategy. This is a surprise attack, and I’d no wish that the garrison, forewarned, should escape. …”

Synonyms

• call, drop a line, phone, ring