dial

1 of 3

noun

di·​al ˈdī(-ə)l How to pronounce dial (audio)
1
: the face of a sundial
2
obsolete : timepiece
3
: the graduated face of a timepiece
4
a
: a face upon which some measurement is registered usually by means of graduations and a pointer
the thermometer dial reads 70°F
b
: a device that may be operated to make electrical connections or to regulate the operation of a machine
a radio dial
a telephone dial

dial

2 of 3

verb

dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling

transitive verb

1
: to measure with a dial
2
a
: to manipulate a device (such as a dial) so as to operate, regulate, or select
dial your favorite program
dialed the wrong number
b
: call sense 1m(1)
dialed the office

intransitive verb

1
: to manipulate a dial
2
: to make a telephone call or connection

dial

3 of 3

abbreviation

Examples of dial in a Sentence

Noun the dial of a pressure gauge I had to keep adjusting the radio dial to make the station come in clearly. Verb I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number. dialed 911 and asked for the police
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Photo : Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC In default GT drive mode, shifts are smooth and torque is limited, but twist the dial to Sport or Sport Plus and everything becomes more intense. Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2024 Chief among them is the dial, the proprietary algorithm that’s the first stop in evaluating a prior authorization. T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
The landmark decision dialed back a years-long fight against inflation and offered relief for borrowers saddled with high costs. Max Zahn, ABC News, 30 Oct. 2024 Over the last two weeks, however, that temperature has been dialed back. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dial 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dyal, from Medieval Latin dialis clock wheel revolving daily, from Latin dies day — more at deity

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1653, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dial was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near dial

Cite this Entry

“Dial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dial. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

dial

1 of 2 noun
di·​al ˈdī(-ə)l How to pronounce dial (audio)
1
a
b
: the face of a watch or clock
2
a
: a face or scale on which some measurement is registered usually by means of numbers and a pointer
the thermometer dial reads 60°
b
: a disk usually with a knob or slots that may be turned to make electrical connections (as on a telephone) or to regulate the operation of a device (as a radio)

dial

2 of 2 verb
dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling
1
: to turn a dial so as to operate, regulate, or select
2
: to make a telephone call or connection

More from Merriam-Webster on dial

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