call

n.

1. A shout

   yell, cry, whoop, hail; see alarm 1, cry 1, yell 1.

2. Characteristic sound

   cry, song, note, shriek; see cry 2.

3. A brief visit

   stop, visiting, a few words, afternoon call; see visit.

4. Word of command

   signal, command, summons, calling up, bugle call, trumpet call, bell, cry, battle cry, rallying cry, reveille, taps, last post, Sanctus bell, angelus; see also alarm 1, command 1, cry 1.

5. An invitation

   bidding, solicitation, request, proposal; see appeal 1, invitation 1, request.

on call

within call

call

v.

1. To raise the voice

   shout, call out, cry out, exclaim; see cry 3, greet, yell.

2. To address or label as

   name, denominate, designate, term; see describe, name 1.

3. To bring a body of people together

   collect, convene, assemble, convoke, muster, rally; see also assemble 2.

4. To invite

   summon, request, ask, beckon, bid come; see also invite 1, summon 1.

5. To request or demand

   charge, order, call upon, entreat; see ask 1, command 1, invite 2, summon 1.

6. To estimate

   guess, make a rough calculation, say it is; see estimate 1, 2.

7. To telephone

   phone, call up, ring; see telephone.

8. To arouse

   stir, awaken, shake; see wake 1.

9. To declare

   announce, proclaim, pronounce; see declare 1.

10. To visit briefly

    make a visit, call on, stop by, drop in; see visit 2, 4.

call, in this comparison, is the basic word signifying to request the presence of someone at some place he called the waiter over; summon, a more formal term, implies authority or peremptoriness in the request to summon a witness; convoke and convene refer to the summoning of a group to assemble, as for deliberation or legislation, but convoke implies greater authority or formality to convene a class, to convoke a congress; invite suggests a courteous request for someone's presence, esp. as a guest or participant, and usually suggests that the decision to come rests with the invited