Translate telephone | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of telephone
noun
1a system that converts acoustic vibrations to electrical signals in order to transmit sound, typically voices, over a distance using wire or radio. an instrument used as part of a telephone system, typically a single unit including a handset with a transmitting microphone and a set of numbered buttons by which a connection can be made to another such instrument.
2a game in which a sentence or phrase becomes distorted by being passed along to the next person in a whisper. Also called Chinese whispers.
verb
[with object] contact (someone) using the telephone:he telephoned his wife at 9.30 [no object] make a telephone call:she telephoned for help send (a message) by telephone:Barbara had telephoned the news
