# telephone

/ˈtɛɫəˌfoʊn/ (US) · /tˈɛlɪfˌəʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/telephone
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. communication device

noun · CEFR A1

a piece of equipment used for talking to someone in a different place.

For teachers: a telecommunication device used for two-way voice communication over distances.

- The telephone on the desk rang loudly while I was in the kitchen.
- Before the era of mobile technology, the household telephone was typically tethered to a wall jack in a central room of the house.

Usage: Often shortened to 'phone' in modern everyday English.

### 2. the game

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a game where a message is whispered from person to person and usually changes by the end.

For teachers: a children's game in which a message is passed through a line of people via whispering, often resulting in humorous distortion.

- The kids played telephone at the party and the final sentence was hilarious.
- The corporate communication breakdown felt like a game of telephone, where the original strategy was completely lost by the time it reached the staff.

Usage: Uncountable in this sense.

### 3. to call someone

verb · CEFR A2

to call someone using a telephone.

For teachers: to contact or attempt to contact a person via a telecommunications network.

- I will telephone you tomorrow morning to discuss our travel plans.
- The witness immediately telephoned the emergency services after observing the suspicious vehicle departing from the scene.

Usage: Can be used with or without a direct object.

## Examples

- The telephone is ringing in the hallway.
- Please leave your name and number after the beep so I can return your telephone call later.
- Before the advent of digital communication, the telephone served as the primary lifeline for families separated by vast geographical distances, requiring a physical connection to a local exchange.

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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.