telephone
A telecommunication device which converts data or sounds (usually speech) into electrical signals which are then transmitted to enable two or more people to communicate with each other over a distance
Other meanings
A means of communicating information from one person to another or others.
Now chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: a simple communication device which converts sounds (usually speech) into mechanical vibrations along a string, wire, etc.
Synonyms
- phone
A kind of
- electronic equipment
Kinds of telephone
- dial telephone
- extension
- pay-phone
- wireless telephone
Word history
From Ancient Greek "τῆλε" (afar, far away, far off).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “telephone” on Wiktionary, by its contributors; related-word lists use Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0, based on Princeton WordNet), published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.