call
noun
1. a telephone connection
- she reported several anonymous calls
- he placed a phone call to London
- he heard the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call
Definition categories: communication, telephone, telephony
2. a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course
- he was disappointed that he had not heard the Call
Definition categories: thought, disposition, inclination, tendency
3. a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
Similar word(s): cry, outcry, shout, vociferation, yell
Definition categories: communication, utterance, vocalization
4. a demand especially in the phrase
- the call of duty
Similar word(s): claim
Definition categories: communication, demand
5. the characteristic sound produced by a bird
Similar word(s): birdcall, birdsong, song
Definition categories: communication
6. a brief social visit
- senior professors' wives no longer make afternoon calls on newcomers
- the characters in Henry James' novels are forever paying calls on each other, usually in the parlor of some residence
Definition categories: act, visit
7. a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement
Definition categories: communication, demand
8. a demand for a show of hands in a card game
- after two raises there was a call
Definition categories: communication, demand
9. a request
- many calls for Christmas stories
- not many calls for buggywhips
Definition categories: communication, asking, request
10. an instruction that interrupts the program being executed
- Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed
Definition categories: communication, command, instruction, statement
11. a visit in an official or professional capacity
- the pastor's calls on his parishioners
- the salesman's call on a customer
Definition categories: act, visit
12. (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee
- he was ejected for protesting the call
Definition categories: act, conclusion, decision, determination
13. the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date
Definition categories: act, option
Sentences with call as a noun:
- I received several phone calls today.
- I received several calls today.
- I paid a call to a dear friend of mine.
- He heard a call from the other side of the room.
- That was a good call.
- That sound is the distinctive call of the cuckoo bird.
- I had to yield to the call of the wild.
- There was a 20 dollar bet on the table, and my call was 9.
verb
1. assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
Similar word(s): name
Definition categories: communication, label
2. ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality
- He called me a bastard
- She called her children lazy and ungrateful
Definition categories: communication, label
3. get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
- I tried to call you all night
- Take two aspirin and call me in the morning
Similar word(s): phone, ring, telephone
Definition categories: communication, telecommunicate
4. utter a sudden loud cry
Similar word(s): cry, holler, hollo, scream, shout, squall, yell
Definition categories: communication, emit, utter
5. order, request, or command to come
- She was called into the director's office
- Call the police!
Definition categories: communication, enjoin, order, say, tell
6. pay a brief visit
- The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens
Similar word(s): visit
Definition categories: social, meet
7. call a meeting; invite or command to meet
- The Wannsee Conference was called to discuss the `Final Solution'
- The new dean calls meetings every week
Definition categories: social, bespeak, quest, request
8. read aloud to check for omissions or absentees
- Call roll
Definition categories: communication, read
9. send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message
- Hawaii is calling!
- A transmitter in Samoa was heard calling
Definition categories: communication, telecommunicate
10. utter a characteristic note or cry
- bluejays called to one another
Definition categories: communication, emit, utter
11. stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather
- call a football game
Definition categories: stative, defer, postpone, prorogue, remit, shelve, table
12. greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name
- Call me Mister
- She calls him by first name
Similar word(s): address
Definition categories: social, address
13. make a stop in a harbour
- The ship will call in Honolulu tomorrow
Definition categories: social, stop
14. demand payment of (a loan)
- Call a loan
Definition categories: possession, demand, exact
15. make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands
- He called his trump
Similar word(s): bid
Definition categories: possession, play
16. give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance
Definition categories: motion
17. indicate a decision in regard to
- call balls and strikes behind the plate
Definition categories: communication, indicate
18. make a prediction about; tell in advance
- Call the outcome of an election
Similar word(s): anticipate, forebode, foretell, predict, prognosticate, promise
Definition categories: communication, guess, hazard, pretend, venture
19. require the presentation of for redemption before maturation
- Call a bond
Definition categories: communication, ask, expect, require
20. challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense
- He deserves to be called on that
Definition categories: communication, challenge, dispute, gainsay
21. declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee
- call a runner out
Definition categories: communication, adjudge, declare, hold
22. lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal
- Call ducks
Definition categories: communication, entice, lure, tempt
23. order or request or give a command for
- The unions called a general strike for Sunday
Definition categories: communication, order
24. order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role
- He was already called 4 times for jury duty
- They called him to active military duty
Definition categories: communication, request
25. utter in a loud voice or announce
- He called my name
- The auctioneer called the bids
Definition categories: cognition, emit, utter
26. challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of
- call the speaker on a question of fact
Definition categories: cognition, challenge, dispute, gainsay
27. consider or regard as being
- I would not call her beautiful
Definition categories: cognition, consider, reckon, regard, see, view
28. rouse somebody from sleep with a call
- I was called at 5 A.M. this morning
Definition categories: body, arouse, awaken, rouse, wake, waken
Sentences with call as a verb:
- That person is hurt; call for help!
- to call the roll of a military company
- Why don't you call me in the morning? Why don't you call tomorrow?
- The captains call the coin toss.
- We could always call on a friend. The engineer called round whilst you were away.
- This train calls at Reading, Slough and London Paddington. Our cruise ship called at Bristol Harbour.
- Why don't we dispense with the formalities. Please call me Al.
- I'm called John. A very tall building is called a skyscraper.
- He called twelve of the last three recessions.
- They call the distance ten miles. That's enough work. Let's call it a day and go home.
- My partner called two spades.
- He felt called to help the old man.
- A recursive function is one that calls itself.