n.
Function: 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 or on call
1 a : available for use : at the service of <thousands of men at his call > b : ready to respond to a summons or command <a doctor on call >
2 : subject to demand for payment or return without previous notice <money lent at call >
– within call : within hearing or reach of a summons : subject to summons