dial

Meaning

Noun

1. A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
2. A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
3. A sundial.
4. A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.
5. A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.
6. (Australia, UK, slang) A person's face.
7. A miner's compass.

Verb

1. (transitive) To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.
2. (transitive) To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone, regardless of whether a physical dial is present.
3. (intransitive) To use a dial or a telephone.
4. (transitive) To initiate a connection to a remote computer service such as a database.

Synonyms

disc

record

dial plate

scale

clock face

face

phone

☎️

clock dial

telephone dial

choose

index dial

ring

💍

indicator

telephone

☎️

draw

elect

front

hail

hand

✋

highlight

horology

invite

limb

limbo

name

opt

ordain

pick

⛏️

plate

plot

radius

reading device

readout

rotate

screen

select

selector

selector switch

single out

sort

summon

think of

turn

D

sun-dial

vote in

horologium

dividing plate

graduated dial

index plate

Translations

cadran

Zifferblatt

composer

comporre

Wählscheibe

wählen

marcar

discar

wijzerplaat

quadrante

Skala

δίσκος τηλεφώνου

disco combinatore

dial

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈdaɪ.əl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: diall

Cognate with Spanish: dial

In summary

The original meaning was 'sundial' and/or 'clock dial'; from Middle English diall, from Middle French dyal, from Latin diālis (“daily, concerning the day”), because of its use in telling the time of day, from Latin diēs (“day”). Compare Spanish dial and día (“day”).