telephone
gb/tˈɛləfˌoʊn/ us/tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
A1
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Device for talking over distance
A machine you use to talk to someone far away by voice.
Usage pattern:
to use [a/the] telephone
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'telephone' with 'television' because both start with 'tele-'. They are completely different devices.
Synonyms
phone (More common and informal term for the same device.)
Antonyms
in-person conversation (Direct face-to-face communication without using a device.)
Collocations
answer the telephone
|ringing telephone
|telephone call
|telephone number
|cordless telephone
Themes
technology
|communication
|daily life
Examples
- She picked up the telephone and called her friend.
- The telephone rang loudly in the middle of dinner.
- I left my telephone in the office.
- He gave me his telephone number so I could reach him.
- The old rotary telephone still works.
Learner examples
- The telephone is on the desk.
- I use the telephone to call my mother.
- The telephone is ringing.
- Please answer the telephone.
- My telephone is black.
Verb
A2
action
2
Call someone by telephone
To call someone on the phone to talk to them.
Usage pattern:
to telephone [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'telephone' instead of the more common 'call' in casual situations, making speech sound overly formal.
Synonyms
call (Most common term used in everyday speech; 'telephone' sounds more formal.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not make contact or respond by phone.)
Collocations
telephone a friend
|telephone the office
|telephone directly
|telephone ahead
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- I will telephone you when I arrive.
- She telephoned the hotel to confirm her booking.
- Please telephone me if you have any questions.
- He telephoned his parents every Sunday.
- I telephoned the school about my son's absence.
Learner examples
- I will telephone my friend.
- She telephoned her mother yesterday.
- Please telephone me tonight.
- He telephoned the shop for information.
- I will telephone you tomorrow.
Grammar
Dictionary form
telephone
IPA
GB/tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
US/tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
Syllables & stress
tele - phone (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tele)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: telephone
- Plural: telephone, telephones
Verb
- Base: telephone
- 3rd Person Singular: telephones
- Present Participle: telephoning
- Past: telephoned
Word family
Expressions
answer the telephone
1/ˈænsɚ ðə tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
fixed phrase
Pick up a ringing phone
To pick up and speak into the telephone when it rings.
Examples
- Could you answer the telephone, please?
- I answered the telephone as soon as it rang.
hang up the telephone
2/hˈæŋ ˈʌp ðə tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
fixed phrase
End a phone call
To stop talking on the phone and put it down or press the end button.
Examples
- He hung up the telephone without saying goodbye.
- Please hang up the telephone after your call.
on the telephone
3/ˈɔn ðə tˈɛləfˌoʊn/
fixed phrase
Speaking on a phone call
Talking to someone using a telephone right now.
Examples
- She can't come to the door; she's on the telephone.
- I was on the telephone when you knocked.