dial

The word “dial” means a round, marked surface with a needle or pointer used to display a measurement, such as on a clock or gauge. In plain terms, a round display with a pointer (like on a clock), or the act of entering a number to make a phone call.

“Dial” is pronounced DEYE-uhl (/ˈdaɪ.əl/ in IPA).

Here is “dial” used in a sentence: “The temperature dial on the oven was hard to read in the dim kitchen.”

Depending on how it is used, “dial” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “dial” comes from Latin. From Middle English diall, from Latin dialis ("daily"), from dies ("day") — originally referring to a sundial.

“Dial” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Dial” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round, marked surface with a needle or pointer used to display a measurement, such as on a clock or gauge.

A dial is the marked, usually circular surface with a pointer or needle that displays a reading, while a gauge is the whole instrument that measures and shows a value. In everyday speech the dial is the face you actually read, and the gauge is the device it belongs to.

Yes. Even though phones no longer have a rotating dial, 'dial' has remained the standard verb for entering a phone number to make a call. The action kept the old name after the mechanism changed.

To dial means specifically to enter the phone number, whereas to call refers to the whole act of contacting someone by phone. You dial the number first, and the call is what connects you to the other person.

'Dial up' means to increase something and 'dial back' means to reduce it, both borrowing the image of turning a control dial. They are informal, figurative phrases used for things like intensity, effort, or emotion.