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information

n.
US //ˌɪnfɝˈmeɪʃən// UK //ˌɪnfəmˈeɪʃən// in·for·ma·tion
  1. 1 directory service (n.)
    B1 Intermediate American English

    a telephone service you call to find someone's phone number.

    a service provided by a telecommunications provider that provides listed telephone numbers of subscribers.

    Example

    I called information to get the number for the local hospital.

    Example

    Before the era of smartphones, callers would frequently dial information to request residential or business listings from a live operator.
    • directory assistance
Origin

From Middle English enformacioun, informacioun, borrowed from Anglo-Norman informacioun, enformation, Old French information, from Latin īnfōrmātiō (“formation, conception; education”), from the participle stem of īnformāre (“to inform”). Equivalent to inform + -ation.

Word family

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