Phone Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms phone 1 American [fohn] / foʊn /

noun

1. telephone.

2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

verb (used with object)

phoned, phoning

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

2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

phoned, phoning

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone 2 American [fohn] / foʊn /

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 American

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

-phone 1 British

combining form

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

   microphone

   telephone

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

   Francophone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 phone 2 British / fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 phone 3 British / fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• -phonic combining form
• phonal adjective

Etymology

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In Harry’s lawsuits against various British tabloids, he cites how he and his brother would regularly discuss their private lives with each other, including leaving detailed voicemails on each other’s phones.

From The Wall Street Journal

Your next trip to or from LAX might soon get more expensive if you’re grabbing a taxi or turning to a phone app for a ride.

From Los Angeles Times

Later, after Wimbledon, I got a phone call from his team about the possibility of working together.

From Los Angeles Times

Griffiths said her behaviour was proof she would "draw a line" between her professional and personal life, claiming she had never used a private investigator or hacked a phone.

From BBC

Shortly afterwards, mobile phones beeped in unison as a missile alert came in and the wail of sirens started up.

From Barron's

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.