call

call1 [ kɔl ] verb ***

▸ 1 ask/tell someone to come

▸ 2 shout to someone

▸ 3 telephone someone

▸ 4 describe someone/something

▸ 5 use a name for someone/something

▸ 6 say/announce something loudly

▸ 7 organize something

▸ 8 of animals

▸ 9 say what will happen

▸ 10 in sports

▸ 11 in card games

▸ 12 shout to lead dancers

▸ 13 describe race/game

▸ 14 visit a place/person

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) transitive often passive to ask or tell someone to come to a place, usually so that you can talk to them:

call someone across/up/over/to etc.: She called me up to the office to explain the new policy.

He called me over and gave me a talking-to.

be called to a meeting/the telephone: He's been called to a meeting with the vice-president.

be called before something: Robinson was called before the commission last week.

a ) transitive to telephone a person or organization that provides a service and ask them to come:

Can you call a taxi for me?

call the police/the fire department/an ambulance: Jack went to call an ambulance.

Eventually the police were called.

be called to something: Firefighters were called to a blaze at a school.

b ) transitive to order someone to be present or give evidence in a court of law:

She was scared she would be called to testify.

2. ) intransitive or transitive to speak loudly or shout to someone who is not near you:

Did you call me?

Her father called up the stairs.

call to someone for something: Paul called to the waiter for another drink.

call to someone to do something: He called to the driver to stop.

3. ) intransitive or transitive to telephone someone:

He called her from the station.

For more information call 1 800 555 3820.

call (someone) to do something: I'll call to confirm the time of the meeting.

=> COLLECT 2

4. ) transitive to describe or refer to someone or something in a particular way:

call someone/something something: The President called him a genuine hero.

I would call what's happening there a war.

sometimes/commonly/often called: It is sometimes called the Garden State because there are so many areas with trees and plants.

a ) to say that something is a particular amount, although this is not the exact amount:

call something something: You owe me $5.08, so let's call it five even.

b ) to criticize someone or say unpleasant things about them:

call someone something: They called me stupid and useless.

Are you calling me a liar?

call someone names (=unpleasant names): The other children teased her and called her names.

c ) to describe yourself in a particular way:

call yourself something: He has no right to call himself a good neighbor.

5. ) transitive to use a particular name or title for someone:

call someone something: Her name's Elizabeth, but we call her Liz.

call someone by their first name/last name/nickname: The teachers always called us by our last names.

a ) to give someone or something a name or title:

Have you decided what to call the dog yet?

call someone/something something: If the baby is a boy, they'll call him William.

b ) be called something MAINLY BRITISH to have a particular name or title:

My teacher's called Mrs. Smith.

What's your mother called?

a book called The Journey

6. ) transitive to say loudly the names or numbers on a list:

When I call your name, raise your hand.

a ) to announce that passengers should go to their airplane because it will soon be leaving:

It'll be another 45 minutes before our flight is called.

7. ) transitive to organize something:

Harris wants to call a meeting to discuss the new proposals.

The country should dissolve its parliament and call an election.

Police chiefs appealed to the terrorists to call a halt to their campaign.

8. ) intransitive if an animal calls, it makes the sound it usually makes

a ) transitive to make an animal come toward you by making the sound it usually makes

9. ) intransitive or transitive to say what you think will happen, for example in politics or business:

hard/difficult to call: The situation in the East is hard to call.

It's very difficult to call the market.

=> CLOSE 2 11A

a ) to say which side of a coin you think will be showing when it comes down after being TOSSED in the air:

call heads/tails: When Neil tossed the coin, she called heads and won.

10. ) transitive AMERICAN to ask for a TIME-OUT (=a short period when play stops) during a sports game:

The referees called time while the clock was reset.

1

a ) AMERICAN to end a sports game early, usually because of the weather:

The ball game was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

1

b ) to make an official decision about something that happens in a sports game:

When the umpire called him out, the fans went wild.

11. ) intransitive or transitive to say which of the four SUITS of cards will be TRUMP (=cards with a higher value) in a card game

1

a ) transitive to tell someone that they must show their cards in some card games

12. ) intransitive or transitive to tell dancers which movements to make, especially for a SQUARE DANCE

13. ) transitive AMERICAN MAINLY JOURNALISM to describe on television or radio what is happening in a race or game

14. ) intransitive MAINLY BRITISH if a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there during its trip

1

a ) to stop at a place on your way to another place, usually so that you can do something

1

b ) call or call in to visit someone, usually for a short time:

I'll call tomorrow and we can discuss it then.

be called to the bar

to officially become a lawyer

be/feel called to do something

to believe that a religious, spiritual, or magic power is telling you to do something:

He felt called to go overseas.

call (someone's) attention to

to make someone notice and think about a person or thing:

a demonstration that was intended to call attention to the plight of endangered species

I'd like to call your attention to exhibit A.

call something into existence/being LITERARY

to cause something to start existing

call something into question/doubt FORMAL

to make something seem less certain:

I think that the association's integrity has been called into question by the affair.

call it a day/night

to decide that you have finished doing something

call the shots/tune INFORMAL

to be in a position of control or authority

call someone to account (for something)

to say that someone is responsible for something that has gone wrong and expect them to explain it, deal with it, or be punished for it

don't call us, we'll call you SPOKEN

used for telling someone that you are not going to offer them a job they have applied for

if you can call it that/something SPOKEN

used for emphasizing that you think something is not as good as it should be, or is not what it claims to be:

That was the end of the discussion, if you could call it that.

is that what you call it? SPOKEN

used for saying in an angry or surprised way that you do not believe or accept a description that someone has just given

(now) that's what I call something SPOKEN

used for emphasizing that something is a very good example of what you are talking about:

Now that's what I call a cup of coffee!

what do you call it/him/her/them? SPOKEN

used when you are trying to think of the correct name for someone or something

=> BLUFF 2, SPADE, QUITS

`call after phrasal verb transitive often passive MAINLY BRITISH

call someone after someone to give a baby the same name as someone else, especially a member of your family

,call a`way phrasal verb transitive usually passive

call someone away to ask someone to leave a place, usually by telephoning them or sending them a message:

He was called away unexpectedly today, which is why I came to meet you instead.

be called away to do something: The doctor has been called away to deal with an emergency.

,call `back phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive call someone back to telephone someone again, or telephone someone who telephoned you earlier:

I'll call you back when I've heard something.

2. ) transitive to ask someone who is trying to get a job, a part in a play, etc. to return for another interview or AUDITION

3. ) intransitive MAINLY BRITISH to go and see someone again, usually for a short time

,call `by phrasal verb intransitive BRITISH INFORMAL

to visit someone, usually for a short time:

Do you want me to call by tomorrow?

,call `down phrasal verb transitive LITERARY

to pray for something bad to happen to someone

`call for phrasal verb transitive

1. ) call for something to say publicly that something must happen:

Several of the newspapers were calling for his resignation.

2. ) call for something to make something necessary or appropriate:

I think that calls for a celebration!

The quality is variable, so careful selection is called for.

not called for (=unpleasant or unfair): I really don't think that remark was called for!

=> UNCALLED FOR

3. ) call for someone/something to go somewhere and get someone or something in order to take them to another place:

I'll call for you at eight.

Has he called for his package yet?

4. ) call for something AMERICAN to say that something, especially a particular kind of weather, will probably happen:

For this afternoon the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with only widely scattered showers.

,call `forth phrasal verb transitive FORMAL

to produce a particular reaction: ELICIT

,call `in phrasal verb

1. ) transitive to ask a person or organization that provides a service to come and deal with something:

The company has called in the police to investigate.

2. ) intransitive to telephone a radio or television program with a comment or question:

It's a hot topic, and people have been calling in all morning.

3. ) transitive to ask or tell someone to come to a place, usually so that you can talk to them:

The manager called me in and demanded an explanation.

4. ) intransitive same as CALL1 14B:

call in to do something: I called in to see Jeff yesterday.

call in on: She wondered whether to call in on Mark on the way home.

5. ) intransitive to telephone the place where you work and say where you are or what you are doing

a ) call in sick to telephone the place where you work and say you will not come to work because you are sick

call in a favor

to ask someone to help you because you helped them in the past

call in a loan

to ask someone to pay you the money that you lent them

,call `off phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to decide that something will not happen: CANCEL:

She's called off the wedding.

a ) to decide to stop something that is already happening: ABANDON:

With the weather worsening, they've called off the search for survivors.

2. ) to tell an animal or person to stop attacking or chasing someone:

I yelled to the man to call off his dog.

call off the/your dogs INFORMAL

to stop criticizing or attacking another person:

All right, you win you can call off the dogs now.

`call on phrasal verb transitive

1. ) call on or call upon call on someone/something to do something to officially ask a person or organization to do something:

The human rights group has called on the U.S. to end the death penalty.

2. ) call on someone if a teacher calls on a student, they ask them to answer a question

3. ) call on someone MAINLY BRITISH to visit someone, usually for a short time:

We could call on my parents if we have time.

4. ) call someone on something INFORMAL to ask someone to prove a statement they have made

,call `out phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to shout something, especially when you are trying to get someone's attention:

Don't call out the answer!

In here! she called out.

call out to: I tried to call out to him through the window.

2. ) transitive to ask a person or organization that provides a service to come and deal with something for you

,call `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive to telephone someone:

I called him up and told him.

call (someone) up to do something: Nancy had called up to invite him.

2. ) transitive to ask someone to play in a sports team, especially a team at a higher level

3. ) transitive to make information in a computer appear on the screen:

Call up the menu and click on Documents.

4. ) transitive to make you remember something: EVOKE:

Seeing Paula in that white dress called up memories of his Aunt Sara.

5. ) transitive MAINLY BRITISH to DRAFT someone into the military

6. ) transitive to use magic to try to make the spirit of a dead person appear

`call upon phrasal verb transitive FORMAL

call upon someone/something same as CALL ON 1:

You could be called upon to make a short speech.

call

call 2 [ kɔl ] noun ***

▸ 1 loud shout to someone

▸ 2 act of telephoning

▸ 3 animal sound

▸ 4 musical sound

▸ 5 formal request

▸ 6 short visit

▸ 7 announcement

▸ 8 decision

▸ 9 guess about the future

▸ 10 in card games

▸ 11 something needing attention

▸ 12 requests for products

▸ 13 strong wish to do something

▸ 14 race/game description

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count a loud shout to someone who is not near you:

call for: A hiker heard his calls for help.

2. ) count an act of telephoning someone: PHONE CALL:

an incoming/outgoing call: You can't take incoming calls on the payphone.

The helpline received 100 calls in the first couple of hours.

return a call (=telephone someone who tried to telephone you): He never returned her calls.

take/answer a call: He took the call in his study.

make a call: Can you wait while I make another call?

give someone a call: Why don't you give me a call in the morning?

3. ) count or uncount the sound that an animal usually makes

4. ) count a loud signal played on a musical instrument to tell people to do something:

a bugle call

5. ) count a formal or public request that something should happen:

call for: A government spokesperson has rejected calls for tougher immigration laws.

There were renewed calls for a return to the peace talks.

a call to someone to do something: This is a call to all voters to participate.

a ) a request that someone pay back money they were lent

6. ) count a short visit to someone, especially to their home:

pay a call on someone/pay someone a call: We decided to pay another call on the Browns.

7. ) count an announcement in an airport telling passengers to go to their airplane because it is leaving soon:

This is the last call for flight UA 554 to Denver.

8. ) count a decision that you have to make, especially when you have to choose between two possible actions:

Do we offer him the job? It's your call.

a tough/hard/difficult/easy call

make the call: In cases like this, it's the President that has to make the call.

a ) a decision made by an official in a sports game:

a line call

9. ) count a guess about what will happen, for example in politics or business:

The election looks so close that it's anybody's call.

a ) a guess about which side of a coin will be showing when it comes down after it has been TOSSED in the air

10. ) count a statement of which of the four SUITS of cards will be TRUMP (=cards with a higher value) in a card game

11. ) count something that needs your time, money, or attention:

call on: Parents of young children have so many other calls on their time.

12. ) uncount usually in negatives the number of requests by customers for a particular product or service:

call for: We only have orange juice. There's not much call for cranberry juice around here.

13. ) singular a strong feeling of wanting do something, especially as a career:

Many young people are feeling the call to do charity work.

1

a ) a strong feeling that makes you want to go somewhere or have a particular type of life:

the call of something: He could not resist the call of the outdoor life.

14. ) count AMERICAN an occasion when someone talks on television or radio about what is happening in a race or game

be on call

to be available in case you are needed at work, especially as a doctor:

Tim's on call this weekend.

the call of duty

the feeling that you must do something because it is your duty:

beyond the call of duty (=more than your duty): His efforts frequently went beyond the call of duty.

the call of nature HUMOROUS

a need to use the toilet

call to action

something that shows that it is necessary to deal with a bad situation in a determined way

=> WAKE-UP CALL

call to arms

something that makes people want to take action and get involved in an attempt to deal with a bad situation

have first call on

to be the first person who is offered something, for example the chance to buy something

there's no call for something SPOKEN

1. ) used for saying that you think someone is behaving in an unreasonable or rude way:

There's no call for sarcasm!

2. ) used for saying that you think something is not necessary or appropriate:

There's no call for regret.

=> CLOSE 2 12A, PORT OF CALL