First used by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 to refer to the modern instrument, but previous devices had been given this name, which was borrowed from French téléphone.

• (RP) IPA: /ˈ tɛl.ɪˌfəʊn/, /ˈ tɛl.əˌfəʊn/
• (America) IPA: /ˈ tɛl.əˌfoʊn/

telephone

1. (countable) A telecommunication device (originally mechanical, and now electronic) used for two-way talking with another person (now often shortened to phone).

   Synonyms: blower, phone, Ameche, dog and bone, horn, pipe, Thesaurus:phone

   Hyponym: cellphone

2. (countable, historical) The receiver of such a device.
3. (North America, uncountable) The game of Chinese whispers.
4. (North America, uncountable, metaphorically) Chinese whispers; a situation in which an initial message has been distorted and misunderstood by being passed from person to person.

• French: téléphone
• German: Telefon, Telephon, Fernsprecher
• Italian: telefono
• Portuguese: telefone
• Russian: телефо́н
• Spanish: teléfono

telephone (telephones, present participle telephoning; simple past and past participle telephoned)

1. (ambitransitive) To (attempt to) contact someone using a telephone.
2. (transitive) To convey (a message) via telephone.
   • 2012, Robert Byron, Jan Morris, Europe in the Looking-Glass:

     David telephoned his apologies to his mother.

• call, drop someone a line, phone, ring
• See also Thesaurus:telephone

• French: téléphoner, appeler
• German: telefonieren, anrufen
• Italian: telefonare
• Portuguese: telefonar, ligar
• Russian: звони́ть
• Spanish: telefonear, llamar