n.
- A graduated surface or face on which a measurement, such as speed, is indicated by a moving needle or pointer.
- The face of a clock.
- A sundial.
- The panel or face on a radio or television receiver on which the frequencies or channels are indicated.
- A movable control knob or other device on a radio or television receiver used to change the frequency.
- A rotatable disk on a telephone with numbers and letters, used to signal the number to which a call is made.
v., -aled, or -alled, -al·ing, or -al·ling, -als, or -als. v.tr.
- To measure with or as if with a dial.
- To point to, indicate, or register by means of a dial.
- To control or select by means of a dial: dial a radio station.
- To call (a party) on a telephone.
- To signal (a number) in making a telephone call: The program dials the number and then connects to the file server.
- To use a dial.
- To use a telephone.
[Middle English, sundial, clock, from Old French dyal, from Medieval Latin diāle, from neuter of diālis, daily, from Latin diēs, day.]
dialer di'al·er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.