verb

call

to call, to telephone, to name, to summon

I will call you later.

I will call you later.

They call him 'the boss'.

They call him 'the boss'.

She called for help.

She called for help.

Let's call a taxi.

Let's call a taxi.

((sb.)) to telephone (sb.) I will call you later.

((sb.)) ((sth.)) to name (sb.) (sth.) They call him 'the boss'.

((for sth.)) to ask for (sth.) She called for help.

Synonyms: phone, ring, name, shout, summon

From Old English 'ceallian', meaning 'to shout loudly'. This evolved to include 'summoning' someone, as with a telephone.

Imagine using a 'calling card' to make a telephone 'call'. This links the idea of naming/identifying with the action of phoning.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.