call (
http://definr.com/call)
n 1: a telephone connection; "she reported several anonymous
calls"; "he placed a phone call to London"; "he heard
the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call"
[syn:
phone call,
telephone call]
2: a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue
a particular course; "he was disappointed that he had not
heard the Call" [syn:
Call]
3: a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition; "the
speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the
audience" [syn:
cry,
outcry,
yell,
shout,
vociferation]
4: a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty" [syn:
claim]
5: the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will
not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age"
[syn:
birdcall,
birdsong,
song]
6: a brief social visit: "senior professors' wives no longer
make afternoon calls on newcomers"
7: a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring
his margin up to the minimum requirement [syn: {margin
call}]
8: a demand for a show of hands in a card game; "after two
raises there was a call"
9: a request; "many calls for Christmas stories"; "not many
calls for buggywhips"
10: an instruction that interrupts the program being executed;
"Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the
routine to be executed"
11: brief visit in an official or professional capacity: "the
pastor's visits to his parishioners"; "a visit to a
dentist"; "the salesman's call on a customer"
12: (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee; "he was
ejected for protesting the call"
13: the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity
future) at a given price before a given date [syn: {call
option}] [ant:
put option]
v 1: assign a specified, proper name to; "They named their son
David"; "The new school was named after the famous Civil
Rights leader" [syn:
name]
2: get or try to get into communication (with someone) by
telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two
aspirin and call me in the morning" [syn:
telephone, {call
up},
phone,
ring]
3: ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that
reflects a quality; "He called me a bastard"; "She called
her children lazy and ungrateful"
4: order, request, or command to come; "She was called into the
director's office"; "Call the police!" [syn:
send for]
5: utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the
doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the
window but she couldn't hear me" [syn:
shout,
shout out,
cry,
yell,
scream,
holler,
hollo,
squall]
6: pay a brief visit; "The mayor likes to call on some of the
prominent citizens" [syn:
visit,
call in]
7: call a meeting; invite or command to meet; "The Wannsee
Conference was called to discuss the "Final Solution";
"The new dean calls meetings every week"
8: order or request or give a command for; "The unions called a
general strike for Sunday"
9: order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity,
work, role; "He was already called 4 times for jury duty";
"They called him to active military duty"
10: indicate a decision in regard to (sports): "call balls and
strikes behind the plate"
11: stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad
weather; "call a football game"
12: read aloud to check for omissions or absentees; "Call roll"
13: send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone,
etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message;
"Hawaii is calling!"; "A transmitter in Samoa was heard
calling"
14: declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee; "call a
runner out"
15: utter a characteristic note or cry; "bluejays called to one
another"
16: utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The
auctioneer called the bids"
17: make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome
of an election" [syn:
predict,
foretell,
prognosticate,
forebode,
anticipate,
promise]
18: challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge
with or censure for an offense; "He deserves to be called
on that"
19: consider or regard as being; "I would not call her
beautiful"
20: demand payment of, as of a loan; "Call a loan" [syn: {call
in}]
21: give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance [syn: {call
off}]
22: greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name; "He always
addresses me with `Sir'"; "Call me Mister"; "She calls
him by first name" [syn:
address]
23: make a stop in a harbour; "The ship will call in Honolulu
tomorrow"
24: make a demand in card games, as for a card or a suit or a
show of hands; "He called his trump" [syn:
bid]
25: require the presentation of for redemption before
maturation; "Call a bond"
26: lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal:
"Call ducks"
27: challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of; "call the
speaker on a question of fact"
28: rouse somebody from sleep with a call; "I was called at 5
A.M. this morning"