dial

noun

A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).

Such a field as part of a clock face; (metonymic) the entire clock face.

A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.

A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.

A sundial.

(UK, Australia, slang) A person's face.

A miner's compass.

A surname.

verb

(transitive) To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone, regardless of whether a physical dial is present.

(intransitive) To use a dial or a telephone.

(transitive) To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.

(transitive) To initiate a connection to a remote computer service such as a database.

(intransitive, dated) To use a dial-up modem to connect a personal computer to the Internet.

Roots

diesdial- · Latin · day

Synonyms for dial

telephonen phonen

Synonyms & related words for dial

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of dial — including telephone, phone. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to dial

Explore words related to dial — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include misdial, predial, redial, telephoner, calls, answerphone, incliner, landline. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for dial

Common synonyms for dial include telephone, phone — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does dial come from?

The word dial breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root dial-, from Latin dies (“day”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.