kɔ:l v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a (often foll. by out)
cry,
shout;
speak loudly. b (of a
bird or animal)
emit its characteristic note or cry. 2 tr.
communicate or converse
with by
telephone or
radio. 3 tr. a
bring to one's
presence by
calling;
summon (will
you call
the children?). b
arrange for (a
person or thing) to
come or be present (called a taxi). 4 intr. (often foll. by
at,
in, on) pay a
brief visit (called at the
house; called in to see you; come
and call on me). 5 tr. a
order to
take place;
fix a
time for (called a meeting). b
direct to
happen;
announce (call a halt). 6 a intr.
require one's
attention or
consideration (duty calls). b tr.
urge,
invite,
nominate (call to the bar). 7 tr.
name;
describe as (call
her Della). 8 tr.
consider;
regard or
estimate as (I call
that silly). 9 tr.
rouse from sleep (call me at 8). 10 intr.
guess the
outcome of
tossing a
coin etc. 11 intr. (foll. by for) order, require,
demand (called for silence). 12 tr. (foll. by over)
read out (a list of names to
determine those present). 13 intr. (foll. by
on, upon)
invoke;
appeal to;
request or require (called on us to be quiet). 14 tr. Cricket (of an umpire)
disallow a ball from (a bowler). 15 tr. Cards
specify (a
suit or contract) in
bidding. 16 tr.
Sc.
drive (an
animal,
vehicle, etc.). --n. 1 a shout or cry; an
act of calling. 2 a the characteristic cry of a bird or animal. b an
imitation of
this. c an
instrument for imitating
it. 3 a brief visit (paid
them a call). 4 a an act of telephoning. b a telephone
conversation. 5 a an
invitation or
summons to
appear or be present. b an appeal or invitation (from a
specific source or discerned by a person's
conscience etc.) to
follow a
certain profession, set of principles, etc. 6 (foll. by for, or to + infin.) a
duty,
need, or
occasion (no call to be
rude; no call for violence). 7 (foll. by for, on) a demand (not
much call for it
these days; a call on one's time). 8 a signal on a bugle
etc.; a signalling-whistle. 9
Stock Exch. an
option of buying stock at a fixed
price at a
given date. 10 Cards a a player's
right or
turn to
make a
bid. b a bid
made. øat call = on call. call
away divert,
distract. call-box a
public telephone box or
kiosk. call-boy a
theatre attendant who summons actors
when needed on
stage. call down 1 invoke. 2
reprimand. call
forth elicit. call-girl a
prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone. call in tr. 1
withdraw from
circulation. 2
seek the
advice or services
of. calling-card US = visiting-card. call in (or into)
question dispute;
doubt the validity of. call
into play give scope for; make
use of. call a person names
abuse a person verbally. call
off 1
cancel (an
arrangement etc.). 2 order (an attacker or pursuer) to
desist. call of
nature a need to
urinate or
defecate. call out 1 summon (troops etc.) to
action. 2 order (workers) to
strike. call-over 1 a roll-call. 2
reading aloud of a list of
betting prices. call the shots (or tune) be in
control; take the
initiative. call-sign (or -signal) a
broadcast signal identifying the radio
transmitter used. call to
account see ACCOUNT. call to
mind recollect;
cause one to
remember. call to order 1 request to be
orderly. 2
declare (a meeting)
open. call up 1
reach by telephone. 2
imagine, recollect. 3 summon,
esp. to
serve in the
army. call-up n. the act or process of calling up (sense 3). on call 1 (of a
doctor etc.)
available if required but
not formally on duty. 2 (of
money lent) repayable on demand.
within call
near enough to be summoned by calling. [OE ceallian f. ON kalla]