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call

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noun British English pronunciation: call /kɔːl/ 
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singularcall
pluralcalls
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 1
    [countable] an act of telephoning someone

    The helpline received 100 calls in the first couple of hours.

    make a call:

    Can you wait while I make another call?

    give someone a call:

    Why don't you give me a call in the morning?

    take/answer a call:

    He took the call in his study.

    return a call (=telephone someone who tried to telephone you):

    He never returned her calls.

    an incoming/outgoing call:

    You can't take incoming calls on the payphone.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  2. 2
    [countable] a loud shout to someone who is not near you
    call for:

    A passer-by heard his calls for help.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  3. 3
    [countable] a formal or public request that something should happen
    call for:

    The government has rejected calls for tougher immigration laws.

    There were renewed calls for a return to the peace talks.

    a call to someone to do something:

    This is a call to all voters to participate.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  4. 4
    [countable] a short visit to someone, especially to their home
    pay a call on someone/pay someone a call:

    We decided to pay another call on the Browns.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  5. 5
    [countable] an announcement in an airport telling passengers to go to their plane because it is leaving soon

    This is the last call for flight BA6774 to Stuttgart.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  6. 6
    [countable] a decision that you have to make, especially when you have to choose between two possible actions

    'Do we offer him the job?' 'It's your call.'

    a tough/hard/difficult/easy call

    make the call:

    In cases like this, it's the President that has to make the call.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
    1. a.
      a decision made by an official in a sports game

      a line call

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  8. 8
    [countable] something that needs your time, money, or attention
    call on:

    Parents of young children have so many other calls on their time.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  9. 9
    [uncountable] [usually in negatives] the number of requests by customers for a particular product or service
    call for:

    We only have orange juice. There's not much call for cranberry juice around here.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
  12. 12
    [singular] a strong feeling of wanting to do something, especially as a career

    Many young people are feeling the call to do charity work.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of call
    1. a.
      a strong feeling that makes you want to go somewhere or to have a particular type of life
      the call of something:

      He could not resist the call of the outdoor life.

phrases

This is the British English definition of call. View American English definition of call.

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View the pronunciation for call.

 

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