phone

phone1 [ foun ] noun ***

count a telephone:

May I use the phone in your office?

The phone rang five times in the next hour.

answer the phone: I called his house but his mother answered the phone.

a. singular the system for speaking to someone on the telephone:

on the phone (=talking using the telephone): Our teenagers spend hours on the phone every day.

by phone/over the phone (=using the telephone): We take orders by phone or by e-mail.

b. singular the part of a telephone that you speak into: RECEIVER:

pick up/put down the phone: She picked up the phone but didn't speak.

=> CELLPHONE

hold the phone SPOKEN

used for telling someone to stop what they are doing immediately

phone

phone 2 [ foun ] verb intransitive or transitive **

phone or phone up to use a telephone to call someone: CALL:

Phone me if you have any questions.

,phone `in phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

to telephone the place where you work in order to give a message:

Another reporter phoned in later with the story.

phone in sick: Kevin's just phoned in sick, so he won't be at the meeting.

a. to telephone a radio or television program with a question or comment: CALL IN

,phone `up phrasal verb intransitive or transitive

same as PHONE:

He phoned up the editor and told her what he thought of her.