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

As there was no electricity they took the stairs to the sixth floor, helped by the torches on their phones.

From BBC

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has admitted pleading guilty to a criminal offence relating to a police investigation over a mobile phone she claimed was stolen.

From BBC

Severe weather alerts warning of a "significant threat to life" appeared on phones across the UK due to a testing error, the Met Office has said.

From BBC

It won’t be easy to pry the phones out of teenagers’ hands, but it’s the right thing to do for their academic success and well-being.

From Los Angeles Times

These pictures were later found on his phone.

From BBC

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial