call

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /kɔːɫ/
• SAMPA: /kO:5/

• Audio (US)

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• Audio (UK)

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Verb

Plain form call

Third-person singular calls

Past tense called

Past participle called

Present participle calling

1. (transitive & intransitive) If you call someone, you contact them using a telephone.

   Can you call me tonight at about 8:00?

   We called 911 and the police came in five minutes.

   I can't talk now. I'll call back later.

2. (transitive & intransitive) If you call to someone, you use your voice to make them notice you.

   I can't see you. Call out to me so I can find you.

3. (transitive) If you call someone or something $x$, you say they are $x$.

   If you ever tell anyone that, I'll call you a liar.

   The kids at school called him an asshole.

   Nobody would even call him good-looking.

   They called it the most important hockey game ever.

4. (transitive) If somebody is called something, that is their name.

   Their daughter's called Mai.

   She's a beautiful baby. What do you call her?

5. (transitive) If you call somebody somewhere, you ask or tell them to come there.

   She called me to her office.

6. (transitive) If you call a meeting, a stop, etc., you say you want one to happen.

   I've called a meeting for tomorrow, and I'd like you to be there.

   Coach Dan Bylsma called a timeout to give his five players a rest.

Synonyms

• ask
• visit

Related words

• calling
• caller

Noun

Singular call

Plural calls

1. (countable) A call is a time when you use the telephone to contact someone.

   After she made the phone call, she left the office.

   I received three calls about the car I was selling.

2. A visit to someone.

   I paid a call to a friend.

   The doctor does not do house calls.

3. A cry or shout.

   He heard a call from the other side of the room.

4. The cry of a bird or animal.

   Cuckoo birds have a unique call.