Wordul · all words

noun · 1 syllable · /foʊn/

PHONE

What does "PHONE" mean?

A device for transmitting speech or data over a distance, especially a telephone.

Meanings

  1. A telephone, especially a portable mobile one. She left her phone charging in the kitchen.
  2. To call someone using a telephone. Phone me when you land.
  3. In linguistics, a single distinct speech sound, regardless of meaning. The phonetic alphabet assigns one symbol to each phone. technical

Did you know?

  • The very first telephone call, in March 1876, was Alexander Graham Bell summoning his assistant: 'Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.'

Word origin

A clipping of 'telephone', from Greek 'tele' (far off) plus 'phone' (sound, voice); the standalone 'phone' was first a shortening that later eclipsed the full word in speech.

Remember it

PHONE hides the Greek 'phone' meaning 'sound' - the whole device is named for the voice it carries.

A little poem

A glass slab lights up-
across the dark, one far voice
fills your empty hand.

haiku

Wordplay

  • Why did the linguist love her cell? Every call was packed with phones.

What it teaches

A line to the far-off is only worth the words you choose to send down it.

Quick facts

What does PHONE mean?

A device for transmitting speech or data over a distance, especially a telephone.

Is PHONE a valid word?

Yes — PHONE is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.

How many letters is PHONE?

PHONE has 5 letters and 1 syllable.

Where does PHONE come from?

A clipping of 'telephone', from Greek 'tele' (far off) plus 'phone' (sound, voice); the standalone 'phone' was first a shortening that later eclipsed the full word in speech.

What can PHONE teach us?

A line to the far-off is only worth the words you choose to send down it.

How players do

Be the first to solve it.

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