Dial

Pronunciation: /daɪəl/

Definitions of dial

noun a disk or plate with finger holes or a set of buttons for activating a mechanism when rotated

Example Sentences

A1 I use a dial to adjust the volume on my radio.

A2 She turned the dial on the oven to 350 degrees.

B1 The safe requires a specific combination to open the dial lock.

B2 The old rotary phone had a dial for selecting numbers.

C1 The scientist carefully calibrated the dial on the microscope.

C2 The DJ expertly manipulated the dial to create a seamless transition between songs.

verb to operate a dial or to select a number or program on a phone or other device by turning a disk or pressing buttons

Example Sentences

A1 I dial my mom's number when I want to talk to her.

A2 She dials the emergency services whenever there is an accident.

B1 He dials in to the conference call every Monday morning.

B2 The receptionist dialed the wrong number and apologized for the mistake.

C1 The expert dialed in remotely to troubleshoot the technical issue.

C2 The CEO dialed up the intensity of the marketing campaign to boost sales.

Examples of dial in a Sentence

formal Please dial the number and wait for the recipient to answer.

informal Just dial my number if you need anything.

slang I'll dial you later to chat about the party.

figurative She knew exactly how to dial up the charm to win over the crowd.

Grammatical Forms of dial

• past tense: dialed
• plural: dials
• comparative: more dial
• superlative: most dial
• present tense: dial
• future tense: will dial
• perfect tense: have dialed
• continuous tense: dialing
• singular: dial
• positive degree: dial
• infinitive: to dial
• gerund: dialing
• participle: dialed

Origin and Evolution of dial

First Known Use: 1400 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'dial' comes from the Latin word 'dialis' which means 'daily'. It originally referred to the daily motion of the sun across the sky.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'dial' came to be associated with devices used to measure time, such as sundials and later mechanical clocks. In modern times, 'dial' is commonly used to refer to the face of a watch or clock, or the numbered disc on a telephone.