An Encylopedia Britannica Company

phone

1 phone /ˈfoʊn/ noun
plural phones
1 phone
/ˈfoʊn/
noun
plural phones
Britannica Dictionary definition of PHONE
: telephone : such as
[noncount] : a system that uses wires and radio signals to send people's voices over long distances
[count] : a device that is connected to a telephone system and that you use to listen or speak to someone who is somewhere else
see pictures at office, telephone; see also cell phone, mobile phone, pay phone
phones [plural] : headphones

on the phone

: using a telephone to talk to someone
British : connected to a telephone system
2 phone /ˈfoʊn/ verb
phones; phoned; phoning
2 phone
/ˈfoʊn/
verb
phones; phoned; phoning
Britannica Dictionary definition of PHONE
: to speak or try to speak to (someone) over a telephone system : telephone
[+ object]
often + up in British English
[no object]
often + up in British English

phone in

[phrasal verb]
: to make a telephone call to a place (such as the place where you work)
: to make a telephone call to a radio or television program
see also phone-in
phone (something) in or phone in (something) : to deliver (something, such as a message) by making a telephone call