English · Daily Life
telephone
/ˈtel.ɪ.fəʊn/
[/ˈtel.ɪ.fəʊn/]
calling device
Beginnernoun
Definition
A device or system that lets people talk to each other over long distances.
Example
The old telephone on the wall rang loudly, startling everyone gathered in the quiet kitchen.
The old telephone on the wall rang loudly, startling everyone gathered in the quiet kitchen.
Etymology
From Greek 'tele' (far) and 'phone' (voice), coined in the 19th century.
How & Where It’s Used
The formal term for the device, now usually shortened to 'phone'.
Literary Heritage
Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876.