Meaning & Definition of Call in English

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"

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"

3. A loud utterance

• Often in protest or opposition

• "The speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience"

4. A demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty"

5. The characteristic sound produced by a bird

• "A bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age"

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"

7. A demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement

8. A demand for a show of hands in a card game

• "After two raises there was a call"

9. A request

• "Many calls for christmas stories"

• "Not many calls for buggywhips"

10. An instruction that interrupts the program being executed

• "Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed"

11. A visit in an official or professional capacity

• "The pastor's calls on his parishioners"

• "The salesman's call on a customer"

12. (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee

• "He was ejected for protesting the call"

13. The option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date

1. Assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

• "They named their son david"

• "The new school was named after the famous civil rights leader"

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"

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"

4. Utter a sudden loud cry

• "She cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"

• "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me"

5. Order, request, or command to come

• "She was called into the director's office"

• "Call the police!"

6. Pay a brief visit

• "The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens"

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"

8. Read aloud to check for omissions or absentees

• "Call roll"

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"

10. Utter a characteristic note or cry

• "Bluejays called to one another"

11. Stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather

• "Call a football game"

12. Greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name

• "He always addresses me with `sir'"

• "Call me mister"

• "She calls him by first name"

13. Make a stop in a harbour

• "The ship will call in honolulu tomorrow"

14. Demand payment of (a loan)

• "Call a loan"

15. Make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands

• "He called his trump"

16. Give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance

17. Indicate a decision in regard to

• "Call balls and strikes behind the plate"

18. Make a prediction about

• Tell in advance

• "Call the outcome of an election"

19. Require the presentation of for redemption before maturation

• "Call a bond"

20. Challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement

• Charge with or censure for an offense

• "He deserves to be called on that"

21. Declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee

• "Call a runner out"

22. Lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal

• "Call ducks"

23. Order or request or give a command for

• "The unions called a general strike for sunday"

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"

25. Utter in a loud voice or announce

• "He called my name"

• "The auctioneer called the bids"

26. Challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of

• "Call the speaker on a question of fact"

27. Consider or regard as being

• "I would not call her beautiful"

28. Rouse somebody from sleep with a call

• "I was called at 5 a.m. this morning"