'Dial' definitions:
Definition of 'dial'
From: WordNet
noun
The face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
noun
The control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning
noun
The circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments
noun
A disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called [syn: dial, telephone dial]
verb
Operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial"
verb
Choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"
Definition of 'Dial'
From: GCIDE
Definition of 'Dial'
From: GCIDE
- Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]
- 1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical. [1913 Webster]
- 2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. [1913 Webster]
- 3. A miner's compass. [1913 Webster]
- Dial bird (Zool.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species.
- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated.
- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Dial'
From: Easton
- Dial for the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible, erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8). The Hebrew word (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex. 20:26, 1 Kings 10:19, and "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9, 10, 11. The _ma'aloth_ was probably stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of steps, according as the sun was low or high.
- Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at Babylon (Dan. 3:6) is the first to make mention of the "hour."
Synonyms of 'dial'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- appraise,
- appreciate,
- assay,
- assess,
- buzz,
- calculate,
- calibrate,
- caliper,
- call,
- call up,
- check a parameter,
- compute,
- countenance,
- divide,
- estimate,
- evaluate,
- face,
- fathom,
- features,
- gauge,
- give a ring,
- graduate,
- hang up,
- hold the phone,
- kisser,
- listen in,
- make a call,
- map,
- measure,
- mensurate,
- mete,
- meter,
- mug,
- pace,
- pan,
- phiz,
- phone,
- plumb,
- prize,
- probe,
- puss,
- quantify,
- quantize,
- rate,
- ring,
- ring off,
- ring up,
- size,
- size up,
- sound,
- span,
- step,
- survey,
- take a reading,
- telephone,
- triangulate,
- valuate,
- value,
- visage,
- weigh