An Encylopedia Britannica Company

call

1 call /ˈkɑːl/ verb
calls; called; calling
1 call
/ˈkɑːl/
verb
calls; called; calling
Britannica Dictionary definition of CALL
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to speak in a loud voice
[no object]
[+ object]
see also call out 1 (below)
[+ object] : to announce or read (something) in a loud voice
see also call out 1 (below)
[no object] of a bird or animal : to make the sound that is usual for a particular type of bird or animal
: to make a telephone call
[no object]
[+ object]
see also call 3b (below), call in 1 (below), call up 1 (below)
[+ object]
: to tell, order, or ask (someone or something) to come
: to make a telephone call to tell, order, or ask (someone or something) to come
see also call 2 (above)
[+ object]
: to give a name to (someone or something)
: to talk to or refer to (someone or something) with a specified name
see also name-calling
: to regard or think of (someone or something) in a certain way
[+ object] : to give the order for (something, such as a meeting)
[no object] : to make a brief visit
see also call at (below), call for 2 (below), call in 2 (below), call on 5 (below)
[+ object] : to say or guess what the result of something will be
[+ object] sports
: to stop or cancel (something, such as a baseball game) because of bad conditions
: to make an official ruling or decision about (something, such as a pitched ball or a player's action)
American football : to say or decide what kind of play will be used
poker : to require (a player) to show a hand by making an equal bet
[+ object]
[no object]

call a spade a spade

see spade

call at

[phrasal verb]
call at (a place) of a boat or ship
: to stop at (a place) briefly

call down

[phrasal verb]
call down (something) or call (something) down literary
: to pray or ask God to do something to someone

call for

[phrasal verb]
call for (something)
: to say or demand publicly that something is needed or should be done
: to indicate that something is needed or should be done
: to require or demand (something) as necessary or proper
call for (someone or something) : to go to a place to get (someone or something)

call forth

[phrasal verb]
call forth (something) or call (something) forth
: to bring (a memory, image, etc.) into the mind

call in

[phrasal verb]
: to make a telephone call to a place (such as the place where you work)
: to make a telephone call to a radio or television program
see also call-in
call (something) in or call in (something) : to deliver (something, such as a message) by making a telephone call
: to go in somewhere to make a visit often + on
call (something) in or call in (something)
: to say that something that has been given or sent should be returned
: to demand payment of (a loan)
call (someone) in or call in (someone) : to ask for the help or services of (someone)

call into action

see action

call into question

also US call into doubt
: to make people doubt something

call it a day/night

: to stop an activity (such as work) for the remainder of the day or night

call it quits

see quits

call off

[phrasal verb]
call off (something) or call (something) off : to stop doing or planning to do (something)
call off (someone or something) or call (someone or something) off : to cause or tell (a person or animal) to stop attacking, chasing, etc.

call on/upon

[phrasal verb]
call on/upon (someone or something) : to ask (someone or something) to do something : to say that someone or something should do something followed by to + verb
call on/upon (someone) : to ask for help from (someone)
call on/upon (something) : to use (something, such as a talent or skill)
call on (someone) : to ask for a response from (someone, such as a student)
call on (someone) : to make a brief visit to (someone)
call (someone) on (something) US, informal : to directly criticize (someone) for (something, such as bad behavior)

call out

[phrasal verb]
call out or call (something) out or call out (something) : to speak in a loud voice
: to say (something) in a loud voice
: to announce or read (something) in a loud voice
call out (someone) or call (someone) out
: to order or tell (a group of people, such as soldiers) to come or go somewhere
: to order or tell (workers) to go on strike

call (someone) on the carpet

see 1carpet

call (something) to order

see 1order

call the shots

see 1shot

call the tune

see 1tune

call time

see 1time

call to account

see 1account

call to mind

see 1mind

call up

[phrasal verb]
call (someone) up or call up (someone) chiefly US : to make a telephone call to (someone)
call (something) up or call up (something)
: to bring (something, such as a memory) into the mind
: to bring (strength, courage, etc.) from within yourself
: to get (something) from the memory of a computer and show it on the screen
call (someone) up or call up (someone)
: to order or tell (someone) to come or appear
: to bring (an athlete) to a higher league
: to order (soldiers) to come for active military duty see also call-up

call your bluff

see 2bluff
2 call /ˈkɑːl/ noun
plural calls
2 call
/ˈkɑːl/
noun
plural calls
Britannica Dictionary definition of CALL
[count] : an act of using the telephone : an act of calling someone on the telephone
see also toll call, trunk call, wake-up call
[count]
: an act of calling with the voice : a loud cry or shout
: the sound made by an animal or bird
: an imitation of the sound made by a bird or animal
: a device that is used to imitate the sound made by a bird
: a loud sound or signal made with a musical instrument
[count] : a public request or statement that asks or tells people to do something
see also clarion call, curtain call, call to arms at 2arm
: a request for something
[count]
[noncount]
[noncount] : a reason for doing something used in negative statements to criticize someone's behavior
[count] : a brief visit
see also house call, port of call
[count] : something that is called or announced
especially : an announcement telling passengers to get on a plane, train, etc., that will be leaving soon
see also last call
[count]
: a decision made by an official in a sports contest
chiefly US : a decision
see also close call, judgment call
[singular] : the appeal or attraction of something that makes a person want to go somewhere
see also call of nature
[count] : something that requires a person's attention or effort + on

at someone's beck and call

see 1beck

on call

: available to be called when needed : ready to come when needed