call

[[t]kɔ͟ːl[/t]]

♦

calls, calling, called

1) VERB If you call someone or something by a particular name or title, you give them that name or title.

[V n n] I always wanted to call the dog Mufty for some reason...

[V n n] `Doctor...' - `Will you please call me Sarah?'...

[V n by n] Everybody called each other by their surnames.

Derived words:

called ADJ v-link ADJ

Klein's most important work is called `Envy and Gratitude'...

There are two men called Buckley at the Home Office.

...a device called an optical amplifier.

2) VERB If you call someone or something a particular thing, you suggest they are that thing or describe them as that thing.

[V n n] The speech was interrupted by members of the Conservative Party, who called him a traitor...

[V n n] I wouldn't call it a burden; I call it a responsibility...

[V n adj] She calls me lazy and selfish...

[V it adj to-inf] He called it particularly cynical to begin the releases on Christmas Day...

[V pron-refl n] Anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist.

3) VERB If you call something, you say it in a loud voice, because you are trying to attract someone's attention.

[V n] He could hear the others downstairs in different parts of the house calling his name...

[V with quote] `Boys!' she called again.

PHRASAL VERB

Call out means the same as call.

V P n (not pron) The butcher's son called out a greeting... Also V n P V P with quote The train stopped and a porter called out, `Middlesbrough!'

4) VERB If you call someone, you telephone them.

[V n] Would you call me as soon as you find out? My number's in the phone book...

[V n] A friend of mine gave me this number to call...

`May I speak with Mr Coyne, please?' - `May I ask who's calling?'

Syn:

telephone

5) VERB If you call someone such as a doctor or the police, you ask them to come to you, usually by telephoning them.

[V n] He screamed for his wife to call an ambulance...

[be V-ed to-inf] One night he was called to see a woman with tuberculosis.

6) VERB If you call someone, you ask them to come to you by shouting to them.

[V n] She called her young son: `Here, Stephen, come and look at this!'...

[V n prep] He called me over the Tannoy.

7) N-COUNT When you make a telephone call, you telephone someone.

I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend...

I've had hundreds of calls from other victims...

I got a call from him late yesterday evening.

8) VERB If someone in authority calls something such as a meeting, rehearsal, or election, they arrange for it to take place at a particular time.

[V n] The Committee decided to call a meeting of the All India Congress...

[V n] The RSC was calling a press conference to announce its closure...

[V n] The strike was called by the Lebanese Forces militia...

[V n] A meeting has been called for Monday.

9) VERB: usu passive If someone is called before a court or committee, they are ordered to appear there, usually to give evidence.

[be V-ed to-inf] The child waited two hours before she was called to give evidence...

[be V-ed prep] I was called as an expert witness. [Also be V-ed]

Syn:

summon

10) VERB If you call somewhere, you make a short visit there.

[V prep/adv] A market researcher called at the house where he was living...

Andrew now came almost weekly to call.

N-COUNT

Call is also a noun.

He decided to pay a call on Tommy Cummings.

11) VERB When a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there for a short time to allow people to get on or off.

[V prep/adv] The steamer calls at several palm-fringed ports along the way.

12) VERB To call a game or sporting event means to cancel it, for example because of rain or bad light. [AM]

[be V-ed] The second game of the series had ended in a 3-3 tie after ten innings when the game was called on account of darkness...

[V n] We called the next game.

Syn:

call off

13) N-COUNT: usu N for n, N to-inf If there is a call for something, someone demands that it should happen.

There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement...

Almost all workers heeded a call by the trade unions to stay at home for the duration of the strike.

14) N-UNCOUNT: with brd-neg, N for n If there is little or no call for something, very few people want it to be done or provided.

`Have you got just plain chocolate?' - `No, I'm afraid there's not much call for that.'

Syn:

demand

15) N-SING: with poss The call of something such as a place is the way it attracts or interests you strongly.

You must be feeling exhilarated by the call of the new.

Syn:

pull, lure

16) N-COUNT The call of a particular bird or animal is the characteristic sound that it makes.

...the plaintive call of a whale.

...a wide range of animal noises and bird calls.

17) → See also , so-called

18) PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR n If you have first call on something, you will be asked before anyone else whether you want to buy or use it.

Why should they get first call on the best property?

Syn:

first refusal on

19) PHRASE: PHR n to-inf, PHR n (disapproval) If you say that there is no call for someone to behave in a particular way, you are criticizing their behaviour, usually because you think it is rude.

There was no call for him to single you out from all the others.

Syn:

there is no need for

20) PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR If someone is on call, they are ready to go to work at any time if they are needed, especially if there is an emergency.

In theory I'm on call day and night.

...a doctor on call.

21) PHRASE: V inflects If you call in sick, you telephone the place where you work to tell them you will not be coming to work because you are ill.

`Shouldn't you be at work today?' - `I called in sick.'

22) to call someone's bluff → see bluff

to call it a day → see day

to call a halt → see halt

to call something to mind → see mind

call of nature → see nature

to call someone to order → see order

to call something your own → see own

to call something into question → see question

to call it quits → see quit

to call a spade a spade → see spade

to call the tune → see tune

too close to call → see close II

Phrasal Verbs:

- call back

- call for

- call in

- call off

- call on

- call upon

- call out

- call up

- call upon