dial

Word family

dial1 /daɪəl/ noun [countableC]

1 TDthe round part of a clock, watch, machine etc that has numbers that show you the time or a measurement 钟面，表盘；仪表盘，刻度盘

The lighted dial of her watch said 1.20.

她手表上的夜光表面显示时间为1点20分。

She looked at the dial to check her speed.

她看了看仪表盘，以确认自己的速度。

2 TCBDthe part of a piece of equipment such as a radio or thermostat that you turn around to do something, such as find a different station or change the temperature 〔收音机、恒温器等上的〕调节盘，控制盘

The dial on the heater was set to ‘HOT’.

加热器上的调节盘被调到 “热” 挡。

3. TCTthe wheel on an older telephone with numbered holes for your fingers that you move around in order to make a call 〔老式电话机上的〕拨号盘

Examples from the Corpus

dial• When he tried to call again, he could no longer get a dial tone.• Previous years were ok once you got the sought after dial tone.• We got an error message, indicating there was no dial tone.• Telephones used to have slower rotary dials.• Don't touch that dial. Stay tuned to WXRB.

Related topics: Telephone, telegraph

dial2 verb (dialled, dialling British EnglishBrE, dialed, dialing American EnglishAmE) [intransitiveI, transitiveT]

1 TCTto press the buttons or turn the dial on a telephone in order to make a telephone call 拨打，拨（电话号码）

I think I dialed the wrong number.

我想我拨错号码了。

→4 See picture of 见图 dial

n2 dial something ↔ back/down phrasal verbphr v American EnglishAmE to reduce something or make it less extreme

The candidates have dialed back their attacks on each other, but they are still making their differences clear.

n3 dial somebody/something ↔ up phrasal verbphr v

a) to get a connection to a computer or telephone over a telephone line

b) American EnglishAmE to increase something

We are going to dial up our marketing efforts.

Examples from the Corpus

dial• Dial 911 - there's been an accident.• There is no number to dial.• Romanov dialled a number on his private line and asked to be put through to the Chairman of Gosbank.• Would you like to dial again?• She dialled his home number and left a short message on his answering-machine.• Members may choose to dial into local numbers or use an 800 number, making these ideal services for the traveler.• Moreover, county residents have to dial long-distance to Knoxville to get on-line.• The customer dialled the publication he wanted, put in his money, and out came the book.

Dialn trademark

n1.a type of soap used for washing the body and face, sold in the US

Origin dial1

(1300-1400) Old French Latin dies “day”

dial1 noundial2 verbDialn

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