/ kɔːl; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
GIVE NAME
1.
to give sb/sth a particular name; to use a particular name or title when you are talking to sb :
[ vn - n ]
They decided to call the baby Mark.
His name's Hiroshi but everyone calls him Hiro.
What do they call that new fabric?
[ vn ]
They called their first daughter after her grandmother.
We call each other by our first names here.
—see also called
DESCRIBE
2.
to describe sb/sth in a particular way; to consider sb/sth to be sth :
[ vn - n ]
I wouldn't call German an easy language.
Are you calling me a liar?
He was in the front room, or the lounge or whatever you want to call it.
[ vn - adj ]
Would you call it blue or green?
[ vn - n ]
I make it ten pounds forty-three you owe me. Let's call it ten pounds.
3.
call yourself sth to claim that you are a particular type of person, especially when other people question whether this is true :
Call yourself a friend? So why won't you help me, then?
She's no right to call herself a feminist.
SHOUT
4.
call (sth) (out) | call (out) to sb (for sth) to shout or say sth loudly to attract sb's attention :
[ v ]
I thought I heard somebody calling.
She called out to her father for help.
[ vn ]
Did somebody call my name?
He called out a warning from the kitchen.
[ v speech ]
'See you later!' she called.
5.
to ask sb to come by shouting or speaking loudly :
[ vn ]
Will you call the kids in for lunch?
[ v ]
Did you call?
TELEPHONE
6.
to ask sb/sth to come quickly to a particular place by telephoning :
[ vn ]
to call the fire department / the police / a doctor / an ambulance
The doctor has been called to an urgent case.
[ vn , vnn ]
I'll call a taxi for you.
I'll call you a taxi.
7.
to telephone sb :
[ v ]
I'll call again later.
[ vn ]
I called the office to tell them I'd be late.
My brother called me from Spain last night.
➡ note at phone
ORDER SB TO COME
8.
[ vn + adv. / prep. ] [ usually passive ] ( formal ) to order sb to come to a place :
Several candidates were called for a second interview.
The ambassador was called back to London by the prime minister.
He felt called to the priesthood (= had a strong feeling that he must become a priest) .
VISIT
9.
( especially BrE ) to make a short visit to a person or place :
[ v ]
Let's call on John.
I'll call round and see you on my way home.
He was out when I called to see him.
MEETING / STRIKE, etc.
10.
[ vn ] to order sth to happen; to announce that sth will happen :
to call a meeting / an election / a strike
OF BIRD / ANIMAL
11.
[ v ] to make the cry that is typical for it
IN GAMES
12.
to say which side of a coin you think will face upwards after it is thrown :
[ vn ]
to call heads / tails
[also v ]
IN DANCES
13.
[ v , vn ] to shout out the steps for people performing a square dance or country dance
•
IDIOMS
- call sb's bluff
- call sth into play
- call sth into question
- call it a day
- call it quits
- call sb names
- call the shots / tune
- call a spade a spade
- call time (on sth)
- call sb to account (for / over sth)
- call sb/sth to order
—more at carpet noun , mind noun , pay verb , pot noun , what
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- call at ...
- call sb away
- call back | call sb back
- call for sb
- call for sth
- call sth forth
- call in
- call sb in
- call sth in
- call sb/sth off
- call sth off
- call on / upon sb
- call sb out
—related noun call-out
- call sb up
—related noun call-up
- call sth up
■ noun
ON TELEPHONE
1.
[ C ] (also ˈphone call ) the act of speaking to sb on the telephone :
to get / have / receive a call from sb
to give sb / to make a call
Were there any calls for me while I was out?
I'll take (= answer) the call upstairs.
I left a message but he didn't return my call .
a local call
a long-distance call
➡ note at phone
—see also wake-up call
LOUD SOUND
2.
[ C ] a loud sound made by a bird or an animal, or by a person to attract attention :
the distinctive call of the cuckoo
a call for help
VISIT
3.
[ C ] a short visit to sb's house :
The doctor has five calls to make this morning.
( old-fashioned )
to pay a call on an old friend
REQUEST / DEMAND
4.
[ C ] call (for sth) a request, an order or a demand for sb to do sth or to go somewhere :
calls for the minister to resign
calls for national unity
This is the last call for passengers travelling on British Airways flight 199 to Rome.
( formal )
a call to arms (= a strong request to fight in the army, etc.)
—see also curtain call
5.
[ U ] no ~ for sth | no ~ (for sb) to do sth no demand for sth; no reason for sb's behaviour :
There isn't a lot of call for small specialist shops nowadays.
6.
[ C ] call on sb/sth a demand or pressure placed on sb/sth :
She is a busy woman with many calls on her time.
OF A PLACE
7.
[ sing. ] call (of sth) ( literary ) a strong feeling of attraction that a particular place has for you :
the call of the sea / your homeland
TO A PARTICULAR JOB
8.
[ sing. ] call (to do sth) a strong feeling that you want to do sth, especially a particular job
DECISION
9.
[ C ] ( informal ) a decision :
It's your call!
a good / bad call
That's a tough call.
IN TENNIS
10.
[ C ] a decision made by the umpire :
There was a disputed call in the second set.
IN CARD GAMES
11.
[ C ] a player's bid or turn to bid
•
IDIOMS
- the call of nature
- have first call (on sb/sth)
- (be) on call
—more at beck , close (II) adjective
••
SYNONYMS
call
cry out ♦ exclaim ♦ blurt ♦ burst out
These words all mean to shout or say sth loudly or suddenly.
call
to shout or say sth loudly to attract sb's attention:
I thought I heard someone calling.
cry out (sth)
to shout sth loudly, especially when you need help or are in trouble:
She cried out for help.
•
I cried out his name.
exclaim
to say sth suddenly and loudly, especially because of a strong emotion:
'It isn't fair!' he exclaimed angrily.
blurt
to say sth suddenly and without thinking carefully enough:
He blurted out the answer without thinking.
burst out
to say sth suddenly and loudly, especially with a lot of emotion:
'He's a bully!' the little boy burst out.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to call / cry out / exclaim / blurt out (sth) to sb
to call / cry out for sth
to cry out / exclaim / blurt out / burst out in / with sth
to call / cry out / exclaim / blurt out / burst out suddenly
to call / cry out / exclaim / burst out loudly
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Old English ceallian , from Old Norse kalla summon loudly.