phone

¹

[ fohn ]

noun

1. telephone ( def 1 ).
2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

verb (used with object)

, phoned, phon·ing.

1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

, phoned, phon·ing.

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone

²

[ fohn ]

noun

, Phonetics.

1. a speech sound:

   There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

-phone

³

1. a combining form meaning “speech sound” ( homophone ), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” ( telephone ), “a musical instrument” ( saxophone; xylophone ).

-phone

¹

combining_form

1. forming nouns indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound

   telephone

   microphone

2. forming nouns and adjectives (a person) speaking a particular language

   Francophone

phone

²

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

phone

³

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

Derived Forms

• -phonic, combining_form:in_adjective

Other Words From

• phonal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone¹

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Origin of phone²

First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

Origin of phone³

phone ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of phone¹

from Greek phōnē voice, sound

Origin of phone²

C19: from Greek phōnē sound, voice

Example Sentences

Body-centric data can include information such as the fingerprints used to unlock phones, face scans from facial recognition technology, and data from fitness and fertility trackers, mental health apps and digital medical records.

From Los Angeles Times

The novel insight is akin to moving from the maps of the 15th Century era of Joan of Arc and Richard III to what the phone in your pocket can load.

From BBC

Traces of cyanide were found in Siriporn's body and her phone, money and bags were missing when she was found, police said.

From BBC

But the dog — Mushie — has yet to turn up and the determined couple are now having to endure scam calls and pranksters barking into the phone line.

From Los Angeles Times

Over a traditional Syrian meat-and-rice dish of maqluba, Ali, a former footballer from Damascus, gets out his phone and shows us social media videos that promote smuggling routes.

From BBC

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial