dial

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. a round knob that you turn to change a setting, like the volume on a radio.

n. a rotatable control used to select a frequency, volume level, or other setting on an electronic device.

“Turn the dial to the right if you want to make the heater warmer.”

“The vintage amplifier featured a heavy brass dial that allowed for precise adjustments to the bass output.”

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun British English · Slang · Informal

n. a slang word for a person's face.

n. a slang term for the human face, often used in a slightly humorous or derogatory manner.

“I haven't seen his ugly dial around here for a long time.”

“He had a grin spread across his dial that suggested he was up to no good.”

B1 · Intermediate

v. to type a phone number into a phone to make a call.

v. to select a sequence of numbers on a telephone to initiate a connection.

“You need to dial nine first to get an outside line from this office.”

“In an emergency, you should dial the local emergency services immediately rather than attempting to contact a private doctor.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to change a setting or amount, often used with 'up' or 'down'.

v. to increase or decrease the intensity or amount of something, typically used figuratively with 'up' or 'down'.

“The coach told the players to dial up the pressure in the second half.”

“The marketing team decided to dial back the aggressive rhetoric in their latest campaign to avoid alienating more conservative consumers.”