Meaning of call In English

• 0 to give someone or something a name, or to know or address someone by a particular name:

  • They've called the twins Edward and Thomas.

  • What's that actor called that we saw in the film last night?

  • His real name is Jonathan, but they've always called him Johnny.

  • What's her new novel called?

  • I wish he wouldn't keep calling me "dear" - it's so patronizing!

  • Tom's worried that if he wears glasses at school the other children will call him names.

• 1 to use a phone to talk to someone:

  • He called (you) last night when you were out.

  • She called (me) this morning at the office and we had a brief chat.

  • I've been calling all morning but I can't get through.

  • Do you think we should call the police?

• 2 to consider someone or something to be:

  • He knows a lot of people, but only one or two that he'd call close friends.

  • One sandwich and a lettuce leaf - I don't call that a meal!

  • I'm not calling you a liar - I'm just suggesting that you misunderstood the facts of the situation.

  • I don't aspire to anything very grand - I just want a place I can call my own.

• 3 to say something in a loud voice, especially in order to attract someone's attention, or (of animals) to make a loud, high sound, especially to another animal:

  • Someone in the crowd called (out) his name.

  • Did you call?

  • [ + speech ] "Hey, you! Come over here!" she called.

  • The blackbird called to its mate.

  • She called for order/called the meeting to order.

• 4 to ask someone to come to you:

  • She called me over to where she was sitting.

  • I keep the bedroom door open in case the children call (for) me in the night.

  • I was called to an emergency meeting this morning.

  • At school she was always being called into the headteacher's office.

• 5 to visit someone, especially for a short time:

  • The electrician must have called (round) this morning when we were out - there's a note on the door mat.

• 6 to decide officially to have a particular event or take particular action:

  • The managing director has called a meeting to discuss pay levels.

  • The papers are predicting that the prime minister will call an election in the spring.

  • It's reckoned that the unions will call a strike if management will not agree to their demands.

  • They had to call a halt to (= end) the match because of the heavy rain.

• 7 the act of using the phone:

  • I got a call from an old college friend last night.

  • If there are any calls for me, could you write them down next to the phone?

  • I've just got a couple of calls to make.

  • That decorator you called about painting the house - did he ever return your call?

  • The radio station received a lot of calls complaining about the show's bad language.

  • Before six o'clock, calls are charged at peak rate.

• 8 the sound an animal makes or the sound of someone shouting something:

  • The whale has a very distinctive call.

  • She could hear calls for help from inside the burning building.

  • I'll be in the next room, so give me a call if you need any help.

• 9 the fact of people wanting or needing a particular thing:

  • There's not much call for fur coats these days.

  • formal I certainly don't think there's any call for that sort of language, young lady!

  • Management have so far ignored the union's calls for stricter safety regulations.

• 10 a short visit, especially an official one made by someone whose job is connected with health:

  • Doctor Seward is out on a call this morning.

  • The nurse has got a few calls to make this afternoon.

  • old-fashioned I thought I'd pay a call on (= visit) an old friend of mine this weekend.

• 11 a decision:

  • It was a tough call, but eventually I decided to give up my job.

  • The decision to extend Army tours from one year to 15 months was a good call.

  • More investment? That's got to be your call - you're the one that's paying!

• 12 to give someone or something a name, or to know or address someone by a particular name:

  • They can’t decide whether to call their new baby Carol or Alice.

  • His name is Anthony, but everyone calls him Tony.

  • Politicians waste a lot of time calling each other names and criticizing each other.

• 13 to telephone someone:

  • [ I ] I called last night and left a message.

  • [ T ] Jenny called me and invited us over for the weekend.

• 14 to say something in a loud voice, esp. in order to get someone’s attention:

  • [ T ] “Answer ‘Here!’ when I call your name,” the teacher said.

  • The teacher calls the roll at the beginning of each day.

• 15 to ask someone to come to you:

  • [ I ] I ran to Jonathan as soon as I heard him call.

  • [ T ] You’d better call an ambulance.

  • [ M ] Susan, would you call in the next patient, please?

• 16 to consider someone or something to be something:

  • I wouldn’t call him a friend – he’s just someone I met.

  • The umpire called him safe on a close play.

• 17 to ask for or demand something, or to decide officially to have a particular event:

  • The mayor called a meeting of local organizations to discuss budget priorities.

• 18 a visit that someone makes, esp. as part of a job:

  • The locksmith is out on a call right now.

  • Dr. Menendez is on call for the next 24 hours.

• 19 a decision:

  • I really don’t know what to do – it’s your call.

• 20 a reason or cause:

  • [ U ] There’s no call for you to get so angry – I was just kidding.

• 21 a loud sound made by a person or animal:

  • Where we camp, near the river, you can hear the call of the wolf almost every night.

  • Students tried to imitate the calls of their favorite birds.

• 22 to phone someone:

  • I'll tell Mr Baker you called. Would you like me to pass on any message?

  • Please call us as soon as possible so that we can resolve this issue.

• 23 to make a phone call that is paid for by the person who receives it:

  • To call collect from overseas, you need to reach an international operator.

• 24 to ask or demand that a particular action should be taken or that a particular event should happen:

  • call an election/meeting/strike An emergency meeting of the board was called for the next day.

• 25 to ask people in a meeting or law court to be quiet so that the meeting or legal action can continue:

  • The senator called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order.

  • A deputy called for order in the courtroom.

• 26 to say officially that borrowed money must be paid back:

  • call (in) a debt/loan The contract gives the lender the right to call a loan if the borrower sells the property.

• 27 to pay back money to a person or organization holding a bond before the date when the bond matures (= when it would normally be paid back):

  • When interest rates plunge, a company may decide to call a bond.

• 28 to ask someone to come to a place:

  • call sb in/into/over He was called into a manager's office and told that, after 26 years of service, he was no longer needed.

  • She called me over and asked if I was interested in applying for the job.

• 29 to visit a person or place for a short time:

  • A salesman called at my home.

• 30 to say that a particular event or action will happen in the future:

  • He claims to have called the downturn in the economy nearly four years ago.

• 31 to make someone say what they know about a situation, in a court of law or to a government official or group:

  • The committee can call witnesses and compel them to answer questions.

• 32 an act of communicating with someone by phone:

  • a phone/telephone call I'm expecting a phone call from him this morning.

  • a local/international/long-distance call The company is dropping international call charges to over 20 countries.

  • make/place a call We're not allowed to make private calls at work.

  • get/receive/take a call Thank you for taking my call.

  • return sb's call He was busy when I contacted him and he didn't return my calls.

• 33 a short visit, especially one for a particular or official purpose:

  • a customer/sales call

  • pay a call on sb While I was in the area, I took the opportunity of paying a call on one of my clients.

• 34 a demand for something to happen:

  • a call for sth Yesterday there were renewed calls for a change in the law.

• 35 a situation in which people or businesses want or need a particular thing:

  • a call for/on sth Energy efficiency and conservation could lead to a reduced call for exports.

  • no call for sth There is no call for such luxuries in the present economic climate.

  • He was finding that there were a numbers of calls on his time in his new role.

• 36 a demand made by a company to shareholders for payment of money they owe for shares for which they have paid only part of the price:

  • Shareholders received notice of a call of 40 cents per share on all partly paid-up shares.

• 37 a demand for money that is owed to be paid back:

  • Your loan may contain a call provision if you fall behind on your payments.

• 38 call option

• 39 used to describe a loan that must be paid back immediately upon the request of the financial organization lending the money:

  • Many banks have money market loans at call with discount houses.

  • All our accounts are at-call accounts that require no minimum deposit or balance.

• 40 available to work when needed:

  • He is on call round-the-clock two weeks each month.