Call

Definition

Call is a verb and a noun. As a verb, it means to give a name to, contact by phone, or shout to get someone's attention. As a noun, it refers to a shout or cry, a phone conversation, or a judgment or decision.

Parts of Speech

• Verb
• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kɔl/
• Respelling: kawl

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kɔːl/
• Respelling: kawl

Etymology

The word "call" comes from the Old English "ceallian," meaning "to shout" or "to summon." It is related to Old Norse "kalla" and Old High German "kallōn," both meaning "to call" or "to shout." The term expanded to include various meanings related to vocalizing, summoning, or naming.

Derivatives

• Caller (noun)
• Calling (noun/verb)
• Callback (noun)
• Call-out (noun)
• Recall (verb/noun)

Synonyms

• Summon
• Shout
• Phone

Antonyms

• Ignore
• Silence
• Dismiss

Usage

The term "call" is used in contexts of naming, phoning, summoning, or deciding on something. For example, "I will call you later," or "She made the final call."

Related Terms

• Contact: To communicate or get in touch with someone.
• Label: To name or designate something.
• Announce: To make something known publicly.

Detailed Definitions

Verb

• To contact by phone: To make a phone call to someone.
  • Example: "She will call her friend tonight."
• To shout or cry out to get someone’s attention: Used when trying to draw attention by vocalizing.
  • Example: "He called out to the driver."
• To give a name or label to: Refers to naming or designating something.
  • Example: "They call the dog Max."
• To make a judgment or decision: Informally used in sports or games for decisions.
  • Example: "The referee made the final call on the play."

Noun

• A shout or cry: A loud vocalization aimed at attracting attention.
  • Example: "The call of a bird echoed in the forest."
• A phone conversation: A communication event involving a phone call.
  • Example: "She received a call from her boss."
• A judgment or decision: Used informally to describe a choice or ruling in certain situations.
  • Example: "It's a tough call to make."