# dial

/ˈdaɪəɫ/ (US) · /dˈaɪəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dial
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. measurement display

noun · CEFR B1

the round face on a tool or machine that shows a measurement, like speed or temperature.

For teachers: a graduated circular scale over which a needle or pointer moves to indicate a specific measurement.

- The pilot watched the dial on the dashboard to check the plane's altitude.
- The engineer monitored the pressure dial closely, ready to shut down the system if the needle entered the red zone.

### 2. control knob

noun · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. a person's face

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a person's face.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to call a number

verb · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: 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.

Usage: The verb is transitive when followed by a number or person, but can be intransitive.

### 5. to adjust a setting

verb · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He turned the dial to increase the volume.
- The old radio has a large circular dial that glows in the dark when the power is on.
- Engineers replaced the physical dial with a digital interface, though many users preferred the tactile feedback of the original mechanical component.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.