Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

phone

2 verb
     
phone2 S1 also phone up [intransitive and transitive]
to speak to someone by telephone [= telephone]:
I'll phone you this evening.
Why didn't they phone the police?
For information phone 8279-3772.
Stevie phoned to say that he was going to be late.
I kept phoning her up, asking to meet her.
Tell him to phone back (=telephone again at a later time) tomorrow.
! You do not 'phone to' someone or 'phone to' a number. Phone is followed immediately by a noun: She phoned her friend Judy. | Just phone 01279-623772 and I'll come and get you. ➔ see usage note call1

phone in

phrasal verb
1 to telephone the place where you work, especially in order to report something:
I'll phone in and let them know.
phone something ↔ in
I'll phone the report in tomorrow morning.
She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work).
2 to telephone a radio or television show to give your opinion or ask a question:
There's still time to phone in before the end of the programme.
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:

call, phone, telephone, ringIn spoken English, it is usual to say that you call or phone someone • He calls me almost every day. • Phone me when you get there.In spoken British English, it is also very usual to say that you ring someone • Have you rung Kim yet?It is fairly formal and not very usual in spoken English to say that you telephone someone.!! Do not say that you 'call to' someone • I called him (NOT called to him) to let him know.!! There is no verb 'phone call' • I need to call (NOT to phone call) Monica.You can also say that you give someone a (phone) call or, in British English, give them a ring • Give me a call sometime. • I think I'll give Mum a ring.!! Do not say 'give someone a phone'. ➔ See also call
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
 
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