Dial: meaning, definitions and examples

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dial

[ daɪəl ]

^{Context #1}

communication

A disk with finger holes that is rotated to dial a telephone number.

Synonyms

rotary dial

Examples of usage

You have to dial the number before pressing the call button.
She picked up the phone and started to dial the emergency number.

^{Context #2}

communication

To make a phone call by pressing the buttons on a telephone to select a number.

Synonyms

call, ring

Examples of usage

I need to dial my friend to confirm our meeting time.
She dialed the wrong number and had to try again.

Translations

Translations of the word "dial" in other languages:

🇵🇹 discar

mostrador
botão

🇮🇳 डायल

🇩🇪 wählen

Zifferblatt
Skala

🇮🇩 memutar nomor

dial
tombol

🇺🇦 набрати номер

циферблат
шкала

🇵🇱 wykręcić numer

tarcza
przycisk

🇯🇵 ダイヤルする

ダイヤル
文字盤

🇫🇷 composer

cadran
bouton

🇪🇸 marcar

esfera
botón

🇹🇷 çevirmek

kadran
düğme

🇰🇷 다이얼하다

다이얼
눈금판

🇸🇦 طلب

قرص
زر

🇨🇿 vytočit

ciferník
tlačítko

🇸🇰 vytočiť

ciferník
tlačidlo

🇨🇳 拨号

表盘
按钮

🇸🇮 izbirati

številčnica
gumb

🇮🇸 hringja

skífa
hnappur

🇰🇿 теру

теру құрылғысы
батырма

🇬🇪 დარეკვა

დისკი
ღილაკი

🇦🇿 zəng etmək

cadran
düymə

🇲🇽 marcar

esfera
botón

Word origin

The word 'dial' originated from the Latin word 'dialis,' meaning 'daily.' In the 16th century, it was used to refer to a sundial, which was used to tell time based on the position of the sun. The term evolved to include the rotating disk with finger holes used in telephones to select numbers. Over time, 'dial' became associated with making phone calls by selecting numbers, both on rotary phones and later on touch-tone phones.