call (calls plural & 3rd person present) (calling present participle) (called past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you call someone or something by a particular name or title, you give them that name or title.
`Doctor...'—`Will you please call me Sarah?'... V n n
Everybody called each other by their surnames. V n by n
called adj v-link ADJ
There are two men called Buckley at the Home Office., ...a device called an optical amplifier.
2 verb If you call someone or something a particular thing, you suggest they are that thing or describe them as that thing.
The speech was interrupted by members of the Conservative Party, who called him a traitor... V n n
She calls me lazy and selfish... V n adj
He called it particularly cynical to begin releasing the hostages on Christmas Day... V it adj to-inf
Anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist. V pron-refl n
3 verb If you call something, you say it in a loud voice, because you are trying to attract someone's attention.
He could hear the others downstairs in different parts of the house calling his name... V n
`Boys!' she called again. V with quote
Call out means the same as call., phrasal verb
The butcher's son called out a greeting... V P n (not pron)
The train stopped and a porter called out, `Middlesbrough!' V P with quote, Also V n P
4 verb If you call someone, you telephone them.
(=phone)
Would you call me as soon as you find out?... V n
A friend of mine gave me this number to call... V n
`May I speak with Mr Coyne, please?'—`May I ask who's calling?' V
5 verb If you call someone such as a doctor or the police, you ask them to come to you, usually by telephoning them.
He screamed for his wife to call an ambulance... V n
One night he was called to see a woman with tuberculosis. be V-ed to-inf
6 verb If you call someone, you ask them to come to you by shouting to them.
She called her young son: `Here, Stephen, come and look at this!'... V n
He called me over the Tannoy. V n prep
7 n-count When you make a telephone call, you telephone someone.
I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend..., I've had hundreds of calls from other victims...
8 verb If someone in authority calls something such as a meeting, rehearsal, or election, they arrange for it to take place at a particular time.
The Committee decided to call a meeting of the All India Congress... V n
The RSC was calling a press conference to announce the theatre's closure... V n
9 verb If someone is called before a court or committee, they are ordered to appear there, usually to give evidence.
usu passive
(=summon)
The child waited two hours before she was called to give evidence... be V-ed to-inf
I was called as an expert witness. be V-ed prep
10 verb If you call somewhere, you make a short visit there.
A market researcher called at the house where he was living... V prep/adv
Andrew now came almost weekly to call. V
Call is also a noun., n-count
He decided to pay a call on Tommy Cummings.
11 verb When a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there for a short time to allow people to get on or off.
The steamer calls at several ports along the way. V prep/adv
12 verb To call a game or sporting event means to cancel it, for example because of rain or bad light.
(AM)
(=call off)
We called the next game. V n
13 n-count If there is a callfor something, someone demands that it should happen.
usu N for n, N to-inf
There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement..., Almost all workers heeded a call by the trade unions to stay at home for the duration of the strike.
14 n-uncount If there is little or no call for something, very few people want it to be done or provided.
with brd-neg, N for n
(=demand)
`Have you got just plain chocolate?'—`No, I'm afraid there's not much call for that.'
15 n-sing The callof something such as a place is the way it attracts or interests you strongly.
with poss
(=pull, lure)
16 n-count The call of a particular bird or animal is the characteristic sound that it makes.
...a wide range of animal noises and bird calls.
18 If you say that there is no call for someone to behave in a particular way, you are criticizing their behaviour, usually because you think it is rude.
there is no call for phrase PHR n to-inf, PHR n (disapproval)
(=there is no need for)
There was no call for him to single you out from all the others.
19 If someone is on call, they are ready to go to work at any time if they are needed, especially if there is an emergency.
on call phrase PHR after v, v-link PHR
In theory I'm on call day and night., ...a doctor on call.
20 If you call in sick, you telephone the place where you work to tell them you will not be coming to work because you are ill.
to call in sick phrase V inflects
`Shouldn't you be at work today?'—`I called in sick.'
21
→
to call someone's bluff
→
bluff
→
to call it a day
→
day
→
to call a halt
→
halt
→
to call something to mind
→
mind
→
call of nature
→
nature
→
to call something your own
→
own
→
to call something into question
→
question
→
to call it quits
→
quit
→
to call a spade a spade
→
spade
→
to call the tune
→
tune
→
too close to call
→
close call back phrasal verb If you call someone back, you telephone them again or in return for a telephone call that they have made to you.
(=ring back)
If we're not around she'll take a message and we'll call you back... V n P call for
1 phrasal verb If you call for someone, you go to the building where they are, so that you can both go somewhere.
I shall be calling for you at seven o'clock. V P n
2 phrasal verb If you call for something, you demand that it should happen.
They angrily called for Robinson's resignation... V P n
3 phrasal verb If something calls for a particular action or quality, it needs it or makes it necessary.
(=demand, require)
It's a situation that calls for a blend of delicacy and force. V P n call in
1 phrasal verb If you call someone in, you ask them to come and help you or do something for you.
Call in an architect or surveyor to oversee the work. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you call in somewhere, you make a short visit there.
(=drop in)
He just calls in occasionally... V P
I got into the habit of calling in on Gloria on my way home. V P on n call off phrasal verb If you call off an event that has been planned, you cancel it.
He has called off the trip... V P n (not pron)
The union threatened a strike but called it off at the last minute. V n P call on , call upon
1 phrasal verb If you call on someone to do something or call upon them to do it, you say publicly that you want them to do it.
One of Kenya's leading churchmen has called on the government to resign... V P n to-inf
2 phrasal verb If you call on someone or call upon someone, you pay them a short visit.
Sofia was intending to call on Miss Kitts. V P n call out phrasal verb If you call someone out, you order or request that they come to help, especially in an emergency.
Colombia has called out the army and imposed emergency measures... V P n (not pron)
I called the doctor out... V n P
The fire brigade should always be called out to a house fire. be V-ed P to n
→
call 3 call up
1 phrasal verb If you call someone up, you telephone them.
(mainly AM)
When I'm in Pittsburgh, I call him up... V n P
He called up the museum... V P n (not pron)
Sometimes I'd even call up at 4 a.m. V P
2 phrasal verb If someone is called up, they are ordered to join the army, navy, or air force.
(=draft)
Youngsters coming up to university were being called up... be V-ed P
The United States has called up some 150,000 military reservists. V P n (not pron), Also V n P
3 phrasal verb If someone is called up, they are chosen to play in a sports team. He is likely to be called up for Thursday's match against Italy. be V-ed P →
call-up call upon →
call on
call box (call boxes plural ), call-box
1 n-count A call box is the same as a telephone box.
(BRIT)
2 n-count A call box is a telephone in a box or case, often on a pole, that is at the side of a road and that you can use in emergencies.
(mainly AM)
call centre (call centres plural )
in AM, use call center A call centre is an office where people work answering or making telephone calls for a particular company. n-count
call girl (call girls plural )A call girl is a prostitute who makes appointments by telephone. n-count
call-in (call-ins plural )A call-in is a programme on radio or television in which people telephone with questions or opinions and their calls are broadcast.
(AM) n-count
...a call-in show on Los Angeles radio station KABC.
in BRIT, use phone-in
call sign (call signs plural )A call sign is the letters and numbers which identify a person, vehicle, or organization that is broadcasting on the radio or sending messages by radio. n-count
call-up (call-ups plural )
1 adj If a person gets their call-up papers, they receive an official order to join the armed forces.
ADJ n
(=draft)
2 n-count A call-up is an occasion on which people are ordered to report for service in the armed forces.
The call-up of National Guard and reserve units begun in late August.
call waiting
Call waiting is a telephone service that sends you a signal if another call arrives while you are already on the phone. n-uncount oft N n
clarion call (clarion calls plural )A clarion call is a strong and emotional appeal to people to do something.
LITERARY n-count
Paine's words are a clarion call for democracy.
cold call (cold calls plural & 3rd person present) (cold calling present participle) (cold called past tense & past participle )
1 n-count If someone makes a cold call, they telephone or visit someone they have never contacted, without making an appointment, in order to try and sell something.
She had worked as a call centre operator making cold calls for time-share holidays.
2 verb To cold call means to make a cold call.
You should refuse to meet anyone who cold calls with an offer of financial advice. V, Also V n
cold calling n-uncount
We will adhere to strict sales ethics, with none of the cold calling that has given the industry such a bad name.
conference call (conference calls plural )A conference call is a phone call in which more than two people take part. (BUSINESS) n-count
There are daily conference calls with Washington.
curtain call (curtain calls plural ), curtain-call In a theatre, when actors or performers take a curtain call, they come forward to the front of the stage after a performance in order to receive the applause of the audience. n-count
They took 23 curtain calls.
judgment call (judgment calls plural )
in BRIT, also use judgement call If you refer to a decision as a judgment call, you mean that there are no firm rules or principles that can help you make it, so you simply have to rely on your own judgement and instinct. n-count
Well, physicians make judgment calls every day.
phone call (phone calls plural )If you make a phone call, you dial someone's phone number and speak to them by phone. n-count
Wait there for a minute. I have to make a phone call.
port of call (ports of call plural )
1 n-count A port of call is a place where a ship stops during a journey.
Their first port of call will be Cape Town.
2 n-count A port of call is any place where you stop for a short time when you are visiting several places, shops, or people.
INFORMAL The local tourist office should be your first port of call in any town.
reverse charge call (reverse charge calls plural )A reverse charge call is a telephone call which is paid for by the person who receives the call, rather than the person who makes the call.
(BRIT) n-count
in AM, use collect call
roll call (roll calls plural ), roll-call
1 n-var If you take a roll call, you check which of the members of a group are present by reading their names out.
We had to stand in the snow every morning for roll call.
2 n-sing A roll call of a particular type of people or things is a list of them. (JOURNALISM) N of n
Her list of pupils read like a roll-call of the great and good.
wake-up call (wake-up calls plural )
1 n-count A wake-up call is a telephone call that you can book through an operator or at a hotel to make sure that you wake up at a particular time.
usu sing
2 n-count If you say that something is a wake-up call to a person or group of people, you mean that it will make them notice something and start to take action.
usu sing, oft N to n
The Ambassador said he hoped the statement would serve as a wake-up call to the government.
