Phone Meaning
/ˈfəʊ̯n/Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA device for transmitting conversations and other sounds in real time across distances, now often a small portable unit also capable of running software etc.
nounA person's telephone number (as a means of contact); digits.
Sentence Examples
"The phone is ringing." "I'll get it."
Where can one make a phone call?
I have to make a phone call.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She picked up her ____ to order dinner after a long day at work.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She forgot her ____ at home and felt completely disconnected from the world for the entire day.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kʷelh₁-der. Ancient Greek τῆλε (têle)lbor. French télé- Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-der. Proto-Hellenic *pʰōnā́ Ancient Greek φωνή (phōnḗ)der. French -phone French téléphonebor. English telephone English phone Clipping of telephone; first attested in 1884.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""You bloody fools!" shrieked Nickle, stung by a sudden dreadful inspiration, "we've let him phone. He has got through!""
— 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
"It wasn’t like he was dying to get it off his chest. I think he only phoned because he knew how excited I’d be to hear about it."
— 2010, Tyler Keevil, chapter 32, in Fireball, Cardigan, Ceredigion: Parthian, →ISBN, page 148:
Explore More A1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She picked up her ____ to order dinner after a long day at work.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She forgot her ____ at home and felt completely disconnected from the world for the entire day.