phone
phone
Pronunciation
/foʊn/
fohn
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/oʊ/ - diphthong (as in "go")
/n/ - alveolar nasal
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: phone (e.g., "I picked up the phone.")
Plural: phones (e.g., "There are two phones in the office.")
As a Verb:
Base form (present simple, plural/I/you/we/they): phone (e.g., "I phone my mom every week.")
Present simple (he/she/it): phones (e.g., "She phones her sister daily.")
Present participle (continuous tense): phoning (e.g., "He is phoning a client.")
Past simple: phoned (e.g., "She phoned me yesterday.")
Past participle (perfect tenses): phoned (e.g., "I have phoned him twice already.")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Phone (Noun)
Definition 1: A handheld electronic device used for voice communication over a distance, often wirelessly, and typically encompassing additional functions like text messaging, internet access, and digital media.
Synonyms: mobile phone, cell phone, smartphone, handset, portable communicator
Antonyms: landline (referring specifically to a wired connection, not the device itself), letter (as a method of communication)
Definition 2: A brief instance of telephonic communication; a call.
Synonyms: call, ring (informal, especially British English), buzz (informal), tinkle (informal, dated)
Antonyms: face-to-face meeting, in-person conversation, personal visit
Phone (Verb)
Definition 1: To initiate or engage in a conversation with someone using a telephone or similar electronic communication device.
Synonyms: call, dial, ring (especially British English), buzz (informal), get in touch (by phone), contact (by phone)
Antonyms: ignore, avoid, shun, disconnect (in the context of ending a call rather than initiating one), hang up
Definition 2: To transmit a message or information to someone by means of a telephone.
Synonyms: relay (by phone), communicate (by phone), inform (by phone), tell (by phone)
Antonyms: conceal, withhold, suppress (information), keep secret
Examples of Use
Books: "He picked up the phone to call for help, his hand trembling slightly." (From The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins)
Newspapers: "Authorities have urged residents to check their phones for emergency alerts regarding the approaching storm." (From a local news report, The Daily Sentinel)
Online Publications: "New security features on smartphones aim to protect users from sophisticated phishing scams that target their personal information stored on their phones." (From TechCrunch)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, E.T. famously says, "Phone home," expressing his desire to contact his planet.
Entertainment Platforms (Social Media): A popular influencer recently posted, "Just got my new phone! So excited to try out the camera." (Instagram)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you phone me when you get there so I know you arrived safely?"
"I accidentally left my phone at the restaurant, I need to go back and get it."
"Please don't phone me after 9 PM, I'm usually asleep."
"Everyone seems to be glued to their phones these days."
10 Quotes Using Phone
"An iPod, a phone, an internet mobile communicator... these are NOT three separate devices! And we are calling it iPhone! Today Apple is going to reinvent the phone." (Steve Jobs)
"Don't write anything you can phone. Don't phone anything you can talk. Don't talk anything you can whisper. Don't whisper anything you can smile. Don't smile anything you can nod. Don't nod anything you can wink." (Earl Long)
"When the phone rings, it's like an attack on my life. I get confused." (Ray Bradbury)
"If you are lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call them. Don't text; don't e-mail. Call them on the phone." (J. K. Simmons)
"A friendship can weather most things and thrive in thin soil; but it needs a little mulch of letters and phone calls and small, silly presents every so often - just to save it from drying out completely." (Pam Brown)1
"Mr. Watson — Come here — I want to see you." (First intelligible words spoken over the phone by Alexander Graham Bell, March 1876)
"I hate the phone. It is the worst invention in the history of the world, because if you don't talk, nothing happens." (Alice Oseman, Solitaire)
"My kids idea of a hard life is to live in a house with only one phone." (George Foreman)
"The most important impact on society and the world is the cell phone." (Fabrice Grinda)
"There's an App for putting your phone away and paying attention to those talking to you, it's called RESPECT." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "phone" comes from the ancient Greek word "phōnē," which meant "voice," "sound," or "speech." You can see this root in other words like "phonics" (the study of sounds in language) or "symphony" (many sounds together).
Initially, when the telephone was invented in the late 19th century, people called the complete device a "telephone." This literally meant "far sound" or "far voice" (from Greek "tele" meaning "far" and "phōnē" meaning "sound/voice").
Over time, people started to shorten "telephone" to simply "phone" as a more casual and convenient way to refer to the device. This shortened form became very common, especially in spoken language, and eventually gained widespread acceptance as a standalone word. So, the first known use of "phone" as we understand it today was as a shortened version of "telephone," referring to the communication device. Its meaning has remained consistent with this original shortened form, evolving to include newer handheld and mobile devices.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Phone
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "phone":
On the phone: Engaged in a telephone conversation.
Off the phone: Not currently using the telephone; finished a call.
To phone it in: To perform with minimal effort or enthusiasm; to do something in a perfunctory way.
To phone a friend: (From game shows like "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?") To call someone for help or advice.
By phone: Through the use of a telephone.
Phone tag: A situation where two people repeatedly miss each other's calls and leave messages.
To hang up the phone: To end a telephone call.
To pick up the phone: To answer a ringing telephone.
To put someone on the phone: To connect someone to a phone conversation.
A phone call away: Easily accessible or contactable by phone.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of phone from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
