phone (
also telephone formal):
My wife was talking to someone on the phone. What's your home phone number? The nearest telephone was in the school secretary's office.mobile phone British English (
also mobile informal) a telephone that you can carry with you, that works by using a network of radio stations to pass on signals:
Even children as young as eight have mobile phones. She always has her mobile switched off.cell phone American English (
also cell informal) a mobile phone:
You can reach me on my cell phone.voice mail a system that records messages so that you can listen to them on your phone:
Let me check my voice mail.text message (
also text, SMS) a message from someone that you can read on your mobile phone:
I got a text from Paul.landline a telephone that uses wires – used when comparing this with a mobile phone:
Calls cost 25p from a landline, more from a mobile phone.receiver the part of a telephone that you pick up to listen and talk:
She put down the receiver and started crying.call to phone someone.
Call is used in both British and American English:
One of the neighbors called the police. Call me later.ring British English spoken to phone someone.
Ring is more informal than
phone or
call:
I can ring her at the office tomorrow.give somebody a call (
also give somebody a ring)
spoken to phone someone:
If you ever come to Seattle, give me a call. I’ll give the hospital a ring and see how he is.telephone formal to phone someone:
Angry listeners telephoned the BBC to complain.Skype /skaɪp/
trademark to make a telephone call using special software that allows you to make calls over the Internet:
I Skyped her last night and we spoke for hours. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲