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| di·al [ d əl ] |
noun (plural di·als) |
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| Definition: |
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1. indicator with movable pointer: an instrument with a movable pointer that displays a measurement such as the current speed of a vehicle or the level of steam pressure inside a boiler
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2. control knob: a round control knob or disk turned with the fingers to adjust a piece of electrical or mechanical equipment such as a radio
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3. station indicator on radio: a numbered panel with a movable pointer on a radio, used for tuning in to different stations
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4. clock face: the round face of a traditional clock
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5. disk with holes on telephone: a disk with numbered finger holes on the front of an old telephone, turned with a finger to select the required telephone number
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6. sundial: a sundial or its face
(
dated or literary
)
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transitive and intransitive verb (past and past participle di·aled, present participle di·al·ing, 3rd person present singular di·als) |
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| Definition: |
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1. call by telephone: to call a number or a person on the telephone
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2. select radio or television station: to tune in a radio or television station or program using a dial
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| [14th century. < Old French, "wheel in clockwork that makes a revolution once a day" < Latin dies "day"] |
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  di·al·er noun |
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