Collins English-English Dictionary

call [kɔːl]

1. 1. n [stock exchange] call option an option to buy a stated amount of securities at a specified price during a specified period - Compare put

2. 2. vb [often foll by out] to speak or utter (words, sounds, etc) loudly so as to attract attention

   he called out her name

3. 3. vt. [tr] to ask or order to come

   to call a policeman

4. 4. vi. [intr; sometimes foll by on] to make a visit (to)

   she called on him

5. 5. vi. [often foll by up] to telephone (a person)

   he called back at nine

6. 6. vt. [tr] to summon to a specific office, profession, etc

   he was called to the ministry

7. 7. vt. (of animals or birds) to utter (a characteristic sound or cry)

8. 8. vt. [tr] to summon (a bird or animal) by imitating its cry

9. 9. vt. [tr] to name or style

   they called the dog Rover

10. 10. vt. [tr] to designate

    they called him a coward

11. 11. vt. [tr] [Brit] [dialect] to speak ill of or scold

12. 12. vt. [tr] to regard in a specific way

    I call it a foolish waste of time

13. 13. vt. [tr] to attract (attention)

14. 14. vt. [tr] to read (a list, register, etc) aloud to check for omissions or absentees

15. 15. vt. [when tr, usually foll by for] to give an order (for)

    to call a strike

16. 16. vi. [intr] to try to predict the result of tossing a coin

17. 17. vt. [tr] to awaken

    I was called early this morning

18. 18. vt. [tr] to cause to assemble

    to call a meeting

19. 19. vt. [tr] [sport] (of an umpire, referee, etc) to pass judgment upon (a shot, player, etc) with a call

20. 20. vt. [tr] [Austral and NZ] to broadcast a commentary on (a horse race or other sporting event)

21. 21. vt. [tr] to demand repayment of (a loan, redeemable bond, security, etc)

22. 22. vt. [tr; often foll by up] [accounting] to demand payment of (a portion of a share issue not yet paid by subscribers)

23. 23. vt. [tr] [Brit] to award (a student at an Inn of Court) the degree of barrister (esp in the phrase call to the bar)

24. 24. vt. [tr] [computing] to transfer control to (a named subprogram)

25. 25. vt. [tr] [poker] to demand that (a player) expose his hand, after equalling his bet

26. 26. vi. [intr] [bridge] to make a bid

27. 27. vi. (in square-dancing) to call out (instructions) to the dancers

28. 28. vi. [billiards] to ask (a player) to say what kind of shot he will play or (of a player) to name his shot

29. 29. vi. [intr; foll by for] to require

    this problem calls for study

30. 30. vi. to come or go (for) in order to fetch

    I will call for my book later

31. 31. vi. [intr; foll by on or upon] to make an appeal or request (to)

    they called upon him to reply

32. 32. vt. [tr] to predict the outcome of an event

    we don't know yet if the plan has succeeded because it's too soon to call

33. 33. vt. See question

34. 34. n a cry or shout

35. 35. n the characteristic cry of a bird or animal

36. 36. n a device, such as a whistle, intended to imitate the cry of a bird or animal

37. 37. n a summons or invitation

38. 38. n a summons or signal sounded on a horn, bugle, etc

39. 39. n [hunting] any of several notes or patterns of notes, blown on a hunting horn as a signal

40. 40. n [hunting] an imitation of the characteristic cry of a wild animal or bird to lure it to the hunter

41. 41. n an instrument for producing such an imitation

42. 42. n a short visit

    the doctor made six calls this morning

43. 43. n an inner urge to some task or profession; vocation

44. 44. n allure or fascination, esp of a place

    the call of the forest

45. 45. n [Brit] the summons to the bar of a student member of an Inn of Court

46. 46. n need, demand, or occasion

    there is no call to shout

    we don't get much call for stockings these days

47. 47. n demand or claim (esp in the phrase the call of duty)

48. 48. n [theatre] a notice to actors informing them of times of rehearsals

49. 49. n (in square dancing) an instruction to execute new figures

50. 50. n a conversation or a request for a connection by telephone

51. 51. n [commerce] a demand for repayment of a loan

52. 52. n (as modifier)

    call money

53. 53. n [finance] a demand for redeemable bonds or shares to be presented for repayment

54. 54. n a demand for an instalment payment on the issue price of bonds or shares

55. 55. n [billiards] a demand to an opponent to say what kind of shot he will play

56. 56. n [poker] a demand for a hand or hands to be exposed

57. 57. n [bridge] a bid, or a player's turn to bid

58. 58. n a decision or judgment

    it's your call

59. 59. n [sport] a decision of an umpire or referee regarding a shot, pitch, etc

60. 60. n [Austral]