call (calls plural & 3rd person present) (calling present participle) (called past tense & past participle )
1 verb If you call someone or something by a particular name or title, you give them that name or title.
`Doctor...'<emdash>`Will you please call me Sarah?'... V n n
♦
called adj
There are two men called Buckley at the Home Office.
2 verb If you call someone or something a particular thing, you suggest they are that thing or describe them as that thing.
The speech was interrupted by members of the Conservative Party, who called him a traitor... V n n
3 verb If you call something, you say it in a loud voice, because you are trying to attract someone's attention.
He could hear the others downstairs in different parts of the house calling his name... V n
4 verb If you call someone, you telephone them.
(=phone)
Would you call me as soon as you find out?... V n
5 verb If you call someone such as a doctor or the police, you ask them to come to you, usually by telephoning them.
He screamed for his wife to call an ambulance... V n
6 verb If you call someone, you ask them to come to you by shouting to them.
She called her young son: `Here, Stephen, come and look at this!'... V n
7 n-count When you make a telephone call, you telephone someone.
I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend...
8 verb If someone in authority calls something such as a meeting, rehearsal, or election, they arrange for it to take place at a particular time.
The Committee decided to call a meeting of the All India Congress... V n
9 verb If someone is called before a court or committee, they are ordered to appear there, usually to give evidence.
(=summon)
The child waited two hours before she was called to give evidence... be V-ed to-inf
10 verb If you call somewhere, you make a short visit there.
A market researcher called at the house where he was living... V prep/adv
11 verb When a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there for a short time to allow people to get on or off.
The steamer calls at several ports along the way. V prep/adv
12 verb To call a game or sporting event means to cancel it, for example because of rain or bad light.
(AM)
(=call off)
We called the next game. V n
13 n-count If there is a call for something, someone demands that it should happen.
There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement...
14 n-uncount If there is little or no call for something, very few people want it to be done or provided.
(=demand)
`Have you got just plain chocolate?'<emdash>`No, I'm afraid there's not much call for that.'
15 n-sing The call of something such as a place is the way it attracts or interests you strongly.
(=pull, lure)
16 n-count The call of a particular bird or animal is the characteristic sound that it makes.
...a wide range of animal noises and bird calls.
18 If you say that there is no call for someone to behave in a particular way, you are criticizing their behaviour, usually because you think it is rude.
♦
there is no call for phrase
(disapproval)
(=there is no need for)
There was no call for him to single you out from all the others.
19 If someone is on call, they are ready to go to work at any time if they are needed, especially if there is an emergency.
♦
on call phrase
In theory I'm on call day and night.
20 If you call in sick, you telephone the place where you work to tell them you will not be coming to work because you are ill.
♦
to call in sick phrase
`Shouldn't you be at work today?'<emdash>`I called in sick.'
21
→
to call someone's bluff
→
bluff
→
to call it a day
→
day
→
to call a halt
→
halt
→
to call something to mind
→
mind
→
call of nature
→
nature
→
to call something your own
→
own
→
to call something into question
→
question
→
to call it quits
→
quit
→
to call a spade a spade
→
spade
→
to call the tune
→
tune
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too close to call
→
close call back phrasal verb If you call someone back, you telephone them again or in return for a telephone call that they have made to you.
(=ring back)
If we're not around she'll take a message and we'll call you back... V n P call for
1 phrasal verb If you call for someone, you go to the building where they are, so that you can both go somewhere.
I shall be calling for you at seven o'clock. V P n
2 phrasal verb If you call for something, you demand that it should happen.
They angrily called for Robinson's resignation... V P n
3 phrasal verb If something calls for a particular action or quality, it needs it or makes it necessary.
(=demand, require)
It's a situation that calls for a blend of delicacy and force. V P n call in
1 phrasal verb If you call someone in, you ask them to come and help you or do something for you.
Call in an architect or surveyor to oversee the work. V P n (not pron)
2 phrasal verb If you call in somewhere, you make a short visit there.
(=drop in)
He just calls in occasionally... V P
1 phrasal verb If you call on someone to do something or call upon them to do it, you say publicly that you want them to do it.
One of Kenya's leading churchmen has called on the government to resign... V P n to-inf
2 phrasal verb If you call on someone or call upon someone, you pay them a short visit.
Sofia was intending to call on Miss Kitts. V P n call out phrasal verb If you call someone out, you order or request that they come to help, especially in an emergency.
1 phrasal verb If you call someone up, you telephone them.
(mainly AM)
When I'm in Pittsburgh, I call him up... V n P
2 phrasal verb If someone is called up, they are ordered to join the army, navy, or air force.
(=draft)
Youngsters coming up to university were being called up... be V-ed P
3 phrasal verb If someone is called up, they are chosen to play in a sports team.
He is likely to be called up for Thursday's match against Italy. be V-ed P
→
call-up call upon
→
call on
