CALL


Meaning of CALL in English

I. ˈkȯl verb

Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse kalla; akin to Old English hilde calla battle herald, Old High German kallōn to talk loudly, Old Church Slavic glasŭ voice

Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb

1.

a. : to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance : shout

call for help

b. : to make a request or demand

call for an investigation

c. of an animal : to utter a characteristic note or cry

d. : to get or try to get into communication by telephone

just call ed to say hello

— often used with up

e. : to make a demand in card games (as for a particular card or for a show of hands)

f. : to give the calls for a square dance

2. : to make a brief visit

call ed to pay his respects

call ed on a friend

transitive verb

1.

a.

(1) : to utter in a loud distinct voice — often used with out

call out a number

(2) : to announce or read loudly or authoritatively

call the roll

call off a row of figures

(3) : to announce the play-by-play of (as a football game)

b.

(1) : to command or request to come or be present

was call ed to testify

(2) : to cause to come : bring

call s to mind an old saying

c. : to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office

was call ed to active duty

was call ed to the bar of justice

d. : to invite or command to meet : convoke

call a meeting

e. : to rouse from sleep or summon to get up

f.

(1) : to give the order for : bring into action

call a strike against the company

call a pitchout

(2) : to manage by giving the signals or orders

that catcher call s a good game

g.

(1) : to make a demand in bridge for (a card or suit)

(2) : to require (a player) to show the hand in poker by making an equal bet

(3) : to challenge to make good on a statement

(4) : to charge with or censure for an offense

deserves to be call ed on that

h. : to attract (as game) by imitating the characteristic cry

i. : to halt (as a baseball game) because of unsuitable conditions

j. : to rule on the status of (as a pitched ball or a player's action)

call balls and strikes

call a base runner safe

k. : to give the calls for (a square dance) — often used with off

l.

(1) : to demand payment of especially by formal notice

call a loan

(2) : to demand presentation of (as a bond or option) for redemption

m.

(1) : to get or try to get in communication with by telephone

call the doctor to make an appointment

(2) : to generate signals for (a telephone number) in order to reach the party to whom the number is assigned

call 911

(3) : to make a signal to in order to transmit a message

call the flagship

2.

a. : to speak of or address by a specified name : give a name to

call her Kitty

b.

(1) : to regard or characterize as of a certain kind : consider

can hardly be call ed generous

(2) : to estimate or consider for purposes of an estimate or for convenience

call it an even dollar

c.

(1) : to describe correctly in advance of or without knowledge of the event : predict

(2) : to name or specify in advance

call the toss of a coin

3. : to temporarily transfer control of computer processing to (as a subroutine or procedure)

Synonyms: see summon

- call a spade a spade

- call for

- call forth

- call in question

- call it a day

- call it quits

- call names

- call on

- call one's bluff

- call the shots

- call the tune

- call time

- call to account

- call upon

II. noun

Date: 14th century

1.

a. : an act of calling with the voice : shout

b. : an imitation of the cry of a bird or other animal made to attract it

c. : an instrument used for calling

a duck call

d. : the cry of an animal (as a bird)

2.

a. : a request or command to come or assemble

b. : a summons or signal on a drum, bugle, or pipe

c. : admission to the bar as a barrister

d. : an invitation to become the minister of a church or to accept a professional appointment

e. : a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action

f. : a summoning of actors to rehearsal

the call is for 11 o'clock

g. : the attraction or appeal of a particular activity, condition, or place

the call of the wild

h. : an order specifying the number of men to be inducted into the armed services during a specified period

i. : the selection of a play in football

3.

a. : demand , claim

b. : need , justification

there's no call for such behavior

c. : a demand for payment of money

d. : an option to buy a specified amount of a security (as stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time — compare put 2

e. : an instance of asking for something : request

many call s for Christmas stories

4. : roll call

5. : a short usually formal visit

6. : the name or thing called

the call was heads

7. : the act of calling in a card game

8. : the act of calling on the telephone

9. : a direction or a succession of directions for a square dance rhythmically called to the dancers

10. : a decision or ruling made by an official of a sports contest ; also : decision 1

a tough call to make

11. : a temporary transfer of control of computer processing to a particular set of instructions (as a subroutine or procedure)

- at call

- within call

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.