phone

1
[ fohn ]
/ foʊn /

noun

a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

verb (used with object), phoned, phon·ing.

to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object), phoned, phon·ing.

to send a message by telephone.

Origin of phone

1
First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Definition for phone (2 of 3)

phone 2
[ fohn ]
/ foʊn /

noun Phonetics.

a speech sound: There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”
Compare allophone, phoneme.

Origin of phone

2
First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

OTHER WORDS FROM phone

pho·nal, adjective

Definition for phone (3 of 3)

-phone

a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone).

Origin of -phone

see origin at phone2

Example sentences from the Web for phone

British Dictionary definitions for phone (1 of 3)

phone 1
/ (fəʊn) /

noun, verb

short for telephone

British Dictionary definitions for phone (2 of 3)

phone 2
/ (fəʊn) /

noun

phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

Word Origin for phone

C19: from Greek phōnē sound, voice

British Dictionary definitions for phone (3 of 3)

-phone

combining form

(forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound microphone; telephone
(forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language Francophone

Derived forms of -phone

-phonic, adj combining form

Word Origin for -phone

from Greek phōnē voice, sound