dial Hear it!

dial¹ Definition

dial (dī′əl)

noun

  1. a sundial
  2. the face of a watch or clock
    1. the face of a meter, gauge, compass, etc. on which a pointer or the like indicates an amount, degree, direction, etc.
    2. an illuminated strip on a radio, marked with frequency numbers and equipped with a pointer, for indicating the station selected
  4. a usually graduated disk or knob for controlling some function, as the selection of a TV channel or the temperature of an oven
    1. a rotating disk on a telephone, used in making connections automatically
    2. loosely an arrangement of numbered push buttons on a telephone, used for this purpose

Etymology: ME < ML dialis, daily < L dies, day: see deity

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·aled or -·alled, -·al·ing or -·al·ling

  1. to measure (something) with or as with a dial
  2. to tune in (a radio station, television channel, program, etc.)
  3. ☆ to call (a person, telephone number, etc.) on a telephone by using a dial, keypad, etc.

dial² Definition

dial

  1. dialect(al)
  2. dialectic(al)

dial Synonyms

dial

n.

face, front, disk with figures, circle, numbers, control, knob, indicator, gauge, device for showing time, meter, register, measuring device, horologe, compass; see also control 3.

dial Synonyms

dial

v.

  1. To turn

    rotate, twist, wheel; see turn 1.

  2. To telephone

    ring (up), call (up), phone; see telephone.

dial Telecom Definition
  1. A face, usually in the form of a disk, upon which some measurement is registered in graduations, and to which a pointer indicates a specific value. An analog clock or watch has a dial with 12 major graduations (hours) and 60 minor graduations (minutes and seconds). The second, minute, and hour hands sweep around the dial in a carefully synchronized manner.
  2. A device, usually in the form of a disk, that is manually rotated to make electrical connections or to control the operation of a machine.
  3. In telephone systems, a disk with holes in it that correspond to numbers 0 through 9 and that is mounted on a telephone set.The user places a call by addressing another telephone set identified by a sequence of numbers. In a simplified example, the caller sticks his finger in the hole associated with the first number in the sequence and rotates the dial until it reaches a hard stop and then releases it.As the dial returns to the starting position, it makes and breaks electrical contacts and sends a sequence of electrical pulses across a link to a switch.The switch counts the pulses and stores the number.When all numbers in the sequence have been dialed, the switch sets up the connection between the telephone sets and the conversation ensues. Dial pulse telephone sets are considered primitive today. Most telephone sets have keypads that generate either tones or digital signals. However, people still talk about dialing a telephone number.
dial Usage Examples

Object

  • prefix: You don't need to buy any special equipment or dial any prefixes - simply continue to use your phone normally.
  • digit: Current thinking backed by protocols is that by dialing those digits, a woman admits she can't control things around her.

Converse of object

  • rotate: I also like the rotating dial for the volume control.

Adjective modifier

  • rotary: The Deluxe Vari kennel has rotary dial latches for easier assembly, rotary door locks for easier latching and wire doors finished in black.
  • analemmatic: Laying out the hour points Figure 8: Construction of an analemmatic dial.
  • polished: Superb polished black dial with polished silver sub dials.
  • mat: Superb mat black dial with polished black sub dials.
  • legible: It is an attractive design with easy to see legible dial.
  • FM: Hear us at 90.3 MHz on your FM dial, or 91.7 by cable, or tune in by Real Audio over the Internet.

Modifies a noun

  • marking: The watch has signed crowns with the Tissot T logo, embossed ship on case back and tritium dial markings.
  • telephone: All rooms are en-suite with color TV, direct dial telephone, trouser press, ironing board, tea / coffee making facilities.
  • tone: No dial tone, no ringing sound, cannot make or receive calls?
  • +44: To dial from outside the UK, dial +44 1865.

Noun used with modifier

  • micrometer: To modern eyes the unit does lack something in the way of bulk and the micrometer dials were obviously far too small.
  • jog: Thereâs an unusual jog dial on the side of the unit.
  • 56k: It's about a 9 hour download on a 56k dial up modem on a good day.
  • sub: Nice looking watch with sub seconds dial at the 9 position.
  • enamel: A laurel wreath mount drapes around the white enamel dial with foliate bezel.

Preposition: with

  • numeral: Matt black dial with large luminous numerals ( neon blue glow ).

Preposition: up

  • modem: Downloading the same piece of music using a 56 Kbps dial up modem can take about 15 or 20 minutes.
dial Quotes

Technology, while adding daily to our physical ease, throws dailyanother loop of fine wire around our souls. It contributes hugely to our mobility, which we must not confuse with freedom. The extensions of our senses, which we find so fascinating, are not adding to the discrimination of our minds, since we need increasingly to take the reading of a needle on a dial to discover whether we think something isgood or bad, or right or wrong.

—Stevenson, Adlai E(wing)