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- pronunciation:
- daI
 l
- parts of speech:
- noun, verb
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition 1: |
A dial is a round, flat device that controls a machine or measures something.
When you want to turn off the machine, turn this dial to the left.That dial shows how fast the car's engine is working. |
| definition 2: |
A dial is a flat, round thing that is part of some older telephones. These telephones have numbers on the front of them arranged in a circle. The dial is attached to the front of the phone but has holes in it--one over each number. You put your finger in a hole over a number and move the dial around to select that number. When you've finished selecting each of the numbers you want, your call can go through.
Using a phone with a dial takes longer to select numbers than tapping the numbers on a cell phone screen.
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| definition 3: |
The face of a clock or watch is called a "dial."
The dial on my new watch lights up in the dark. |
| related words: |
hand |
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| part of speech: |
verb |
| inflections: |
dials, dialing, dialed |
| definition: |
When you dial a number on a telephone, you select each of the numbers that make up the phone number you want to call. You select the numbers by tapping on them on your phone's screen or by pushing buttons or turning a dial.
Ella dialed the wrong number at first, so she hung up and dialed her friend's number again.
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| related words: |
call, tune in |
| derivation: |
dialer (n.) |
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