Word
telegram
Phoneticstele·gram
US/ˈtɛɫəˌɡɹæm/
UK/tˈɛlɪɡɹˌæm/
Definitions
01historical message
n. a written message sent by wire and delivered in printed form, used before emails and texts existed.
n. a message transmitted by telegraphy and delivered in physical form. Historically used for urgent communication before the advent of digital networks.
“In the old days, people sent a telegram to share urgent news with family in other cities.”
“The diplomat received a coded telegram from the ministry, instructing him to delay the negotiations until further notice.”
Archaic
Usage
Often used with the verb 'send' or 'receive'.
02messaging app
n. a modern app used for sending instant messages, photos, and videos over the internet.
n. a proprietary, cloud-based instant messaging service known for its encryption and large group chat capabilities.
“I will send you the link to the group on Telegram so you can join the chat.”
“The company uses Telegram for internal communications because its file-sharing limits are more generous than those of its competitors.”
Teaching tip
As a proper noun referring to the app, it is always capitalized.
03to send a message
v. to send a message to someone using the Telegram app.
v. to transmit a message via the Telegram instant messaging platform. This usage is transitive when it takes a person or a message as an object.
“Can you telegram me the address when you get there?”
“She telegrammed the documents to the entire team to ensure everyone had the latest version before the meeting started.”
Informal
Usage
The verb is often used transitively with the recipient as the direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The first telegram arrived in Singapore on a Monday, sent from the city of Batavia in the Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia).” “She posted frequently about health and animal rights and took to Telegram forums to discuss alternative medicine.” “The strike on the village of Pechenihy damaged 10 private buildings, a cafe, a post office, a shop and at least seven cars, Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram.” Etymology
From tele- + -gram.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/telegram