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call

Syllabification: (call)
Pronunciation: /kôl/
Translate call | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of call

verb

  • 1 [with object] cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention:she heard Terry calling her [no object]:I distinctly heard you call
  • cry out (a word or words):he heard an insistent voice calling his name Meredith was already calling out a greeting
  • [no object] (of an animal, especially a bird) make its characteristic cry.
  • shout out or chant (the steps and figures) to people performing a square dance or country dance.
  • telephone (a person or telephone number):could I call you back?
  • summon (something, especially an emergency service or a taxicab) by telephone:if you are suspicious, call the police
  • bring (a witness) into court to give evidence.
  • [with object and infinitive] archaic inspire or urge (someone) to do something:I am called to preach the Gospel
  • fix a date or time for (a meeting, strike, or election).
  • [no object] guess the outcome of tossing a coin:“You call,” he said. “Heads or tails?”
  • predict the result of (a future event, especially an election or a vote):in the Northeast, the race remains too close to call
  • Computing cause the execution of (a subroutine).
  • 2 [with object and complement] give (an infant or animal) a specified name:they called their daughter Hannah
  • (be called) have a specified name:she is called Eva a 1942 mystery called Time To Kill a new Disney show called Hannah Montana
  • address or refer to (someone) by a specified name, title, endearment, or term of abuse:please call me Lucy
  • refer to, consider, or describe (someone or something) as being:he’s the only person I would call a friend
  • (of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, or other action) to be the thing specified:the linesman called the ball wide
  • 3 [no object] (of a person) pay a brief visit:he called around last night looking for you
  • (call for) stop to pick up (someone) at the place where they are living or working:I’ll call for you around seven

noun

  • 1a cry made as a summons or to attract someone’s attention:in response to the call, a figure appeared
  • the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal.
  • [with modifier] a series of notes sounded on a brass instrument as a signal to do something:a bugle call to rise at 5:30
  • a telephone communication or conversation:I’ll give you a call at around five
  • (a call for) an appeal or demand for:the call for action was welcomed
  • a summons:a messenger arrived bringing news of his call to the throne
  • [in singular] a vocation:his call to be a disciple
  • [in singular] a powerful force of attraction:hikers can’t resist the call of the Sierras
  • [usually with negative] (a call for) a demand or need for (goods or services):there was little call for work as sophisticated as his
  • Computing a command to execute a subroutine.
  • a shout by an official in a game indicating whether the ball has gone out of play, a rule has been breached, etc.; the decision or ruling so made:the replay shows that the umpire made a bad call
  • Bridge a bid, response, or double.
  • a direction in a square dance given by the caller.
  • a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital.
  • Stock Marketshort for call option.
  • a player’s right or turn to make a bid in a card game.
  • 2a brief visit:we paid a call on Howard
  • a visit or journey made in response to an emergency appeal for help:the doctor was out on a call

Phrases

call attention to

cause people to notice:he is seeking to call attention to himself by his crimes

call someone's bluff

see bluff1.

call collect

North American make a telephone call reversing the charges.

call something into play

cause or require something to start working so that one can make use of it:our active participation as spectators is called into play

call something into (or in) question

cast doubt on something:these findings call into question the legitimacy of the proceedings

call it a day

see day.

call someone names

see name.

call of nature

see nature.

call the shots (or tune)

take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.

call a spade a spade

see spade1.

call someone to account

see account.

call someone/something to mind

cause one to think of someone or something, especially through similarity:the still lifes call to mind certain of Cézanne’s works
[with negative] remember someone or something: [with clause]:I cannot call to mind where I have seen you

call someone/something to order

ask those present at a meeting to be silent so that business may proceed.

don't call us, we'll call you

informal used as a dismissive way of saying that someone has not been successful in an audition or a job application.

good call (or bad call)

informal used to express approval (or criticism) of a person’s decision or suggestion.
[with reference to decisions made by referees or umpires]

on call

  • 1(of a person) able to be contacted in order to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty:our technicians are on call around the clock
  • 2(of money lent) repayable on demand.

to call one's own

used to describe something that one can genuinely feel belongs to one:I had not an item to call my own

within call

near enough to be summoned by calling:she moved into the guest room, within call of her father’s room

Phrasal Verbs

call for

  • 1make necessary:desperate times call for desperate measures
  • 2publicly ask for or demand:the report calls for an audit of endangered species
  • 3North American predict or describe (the likely weather conditions) for a period of time in the future:the forecast is calling for more rain they’re calling for temperatures in the 80s for the rest of the week

call something forth

elicit a response:few things call forth more compassion

call someone/something down

  • 1cause or provoke someone or something to appear or occur:nothing called down the wrath of Nemesis quicker
  • 2 dated reprimand someone.

call someone in

enlist someone’s aid or services.

call something in

require payment of a loan or promise of money.

call someone/something off

order a person or dog to stop attacking someone.

call something off

cancel an event or agreement.

call on

  • 1pay a visit to (someone):he’s planning to call on Katherine today
  • 2 (also call upon) have recourse to:we are able to call on academic staff with a wide variety of expertise
  • [with infinitive] demand that (someone) do something:he called on the government to hold a plebiscite

call someone out

  • 1summon someone, especially to deal with an emergency or to do repairs.
  • 2order or advise workers to strike.
  • 3 archaic challenge someone to a duel.

call something over

dated read out a list of names to determine those present.

call someone up

  • 1 informal, chiefly North American telephone someone.
  • 2summon someone to serve in the army:they have called up more than 20,000 reservists
  • select someone to play in a team:he was called up from Columbus to finish the season with the Yankees

call something up

summon for use something that is stored or kept available:icons that allow you to call up a graphic
evoke something:the special effects that called up the Mars landscape were impressive

Origin:

late Old English ceallian, from Old Norse kalla 'summon loudly'

call in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of call in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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