tell
1
[ tel ]
/ tɛl /
verb (used with object), told, tell·ing.
verb (used without object), told, tell·ing.
Verb Phrases
tell off,
- to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.
- Informal. to rebuke severely; scold: It was about time that someone told him off.
tell on,
to tattle on (someone).
Idioms for tell
tell it like it is, Informal.
to tell the complete, unadulterated truth; be forthright: He may be crude but he tells it like it is.
Origin of tell
1
before 900; Middle English
tellen, Old English
tellan to relate, count; cognate with Dutch
tellen to reckon, count, Old Norse
telja to count, say, Old High German
zellēn; akin to
tale
Words nearby tell
Definition for tell (2 of 3)
tell
2
[ tel ]
/ tɛl /
noun
an artificial mound consisting of the accumulated remains of one or more ancient settlements (often used in Egypt and the Middle East as part of a place name).
Origin of tell
2
First recorded in 1860–65,
tell is from the Arabic word
tall hillock
Definition for tell (3 of 3)
Example sentences from the Web for tell
British Dictionary definitions for tell (1 of 3)
tell
1
/ (tɛl) /
verb tells, telling or told
See also
tell apart,
tell off
Derived forms of tell
tellable, adjectiveWord Origin for tell
Old English
tellan; related to Old Saxon
tellian, Old High German
zellen to tell, count, Old Norse
telja
British Dictionary definitions for tell (2 of 3)
tell
2
/ (tɛl) /
noun
a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East
Word Origin for tell
C19: from Arabic
tall
British Dictionary definitions for tell (3 of 3)
Tell
/ (tɛl) /
noun
William, German name Wilhelm Tell. a legendary Swiss patriot, who, traditionally, lived in the early 14th century and was compelled by an Austrian governor to shoot an apple from his son's head with one shot of his crossbow. He did so without mishap
Idioms and Phrases with tell
tell