noun
dial
DEYE-uhl
noun
1
A round, marked surface with a needle or pointer used to display a measurement, such as on a clock or gauge.
"The temperature dial on the oven was hard to read in the dim kitchen."
2
A rotating disc, or set of buttons, used to enter a phone number.
"Old phones had a rotary dial instead of buttons."
verb
1
To enter a phone number in order to make a call.
"She dialed her sister's number as soon as she heard the news."
"He accidentally dialed the wrong extension."
How to Use Dial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA round display with a pointer (like on a clock), or the act of entering a number to make a phone call.
Common pairings
dial a number
turn the dial
speed dial
Word Forms
dialed past tense, dialled past tense, dials plural, Dials plural, dials singular
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Etymology
From Middle English diall, from Latin dialis ("daily"), from dies ("day") — originally referring to a sundial.