dial

dial

dial¹ [dī′əl]

n.

[ME < ML dialis, daily < L dies, day: see DEITY]

1. a sundial

2. the face of a watch or clock

3.

a) the face of a meter, gauge, compass, etc. on which a pointer or the like indicates an amount, degree, direction, etc.

b) an illuminated strip on a radio, marked with frequency numbers and equipped with a pointer, for indicating the station selected

4. a usually graduated disk or knob for controlling some function, as the selection of a TV channel or the temperature of an oven

5.

a) a rotating disk on a telephone, used in making connections automatically

b) loosely an arrangement of numbered push buttons on a telephone, used for this purpose

vt., vi.

dialed or dialled, dialing or dialling

1. to measure (something) with or as with a dial

2. to tune in (a radio station, television channel, program, etc.)

☆ 3. to call (a person, telephone number, etc.) on a telephone by using a dial, keypad, etc.

dial²

abbrev.

1. dialect(al)

2. dialectic(al)