Call - Definition

n 1: a telephone connection; "she reported several anonymous
calls"; "he placed a phone call to London"; "he heard the
phone ringing but didn't want to take the call" [syn:
call, phone call, telephone call]
2: a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue
a particular course; "he was disappointed that he had not
heard the Call"
3: a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition; "the
speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the
audience" [syn: cry, outcry, call, yell, shout,
vociferation]
4: a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty" [syn:
call, claim]
5: the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will not
learn its song unless it hears it at an early age" [syn:
birdcall, call, birdsong, song]
6: a brief social visit; "senior professors' wives no longer
make afternoon calls on newcomers"; "the characters in Henry
James' novels are forever paying calls on each other, usually
in the parlor of some residence"
7: a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring
his margin up to the minimum requirement [syn: margin call,
call]
8: a demand for a show of hands in a card game; "after two
raises there was a call"
9: a request; "many calls for Christmas stories"; "not many
calls for buggywhips"
10: an instruction that interrupts the program being executed;
"Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the
routine to be executed"
11: a visit in an official or professional capacity; "the
pastor's calls on his parishioners"; "the salesman's call on
a customer"
12: (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee; "he was
ejected for protesting the call"
13: the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity
future) at a given price before a given date [syn: call
option, call] [ant: put, put option]
v 1: assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to; "They
named their son David"; "The new school was named after the
famous Civil Rights leader" [syn: name, call]
2: ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that
reflects a quality; "He called me a bastard"; "She called her
children lazy and ungrateful"
3: get or try to get into communication (with someone) by
telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin
and call me in the morning" [syn: call, telephone, call
up, phone, ring]
4: utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor
inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but
she couldn't hear me" [syn: shout, shout out, cry,
call, yell, scream, holler, hollo, squall]
5: order, request, or command to come; "She was called into the
director's office"; "Call the police!" [syn: call, send
for]
6: pay a brief visit; "The mayor likes to call on some of the
prominent citizens" [syn: visit, call in, call]
7: call a meeting; invite or command to meet; "The Wannsee
Conference was called to discuss the `Final Solution'"; "The
new dean calls meetings every week"
8: read aloud to check for omissions or absentees; "Call roll"
9: send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone,
etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message;
"Hawaii is calling!"; "A transmitter in Samoa was heard
calling"
10: utter a characteristic note or cry; "bluejays called to one
another"
11: stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad
weather; "call a football game"
12: greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name; "He always
addresses me with `Sir'"; "Call me Mister"; "She calls him
by first name" [syn: address, call]
13: make a stop in a harbour; "The ship will call in Honolulu
tomorrow"
14: demand payment of (a loan); "Call a loan" [syn: call,
call in]
15: make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands;
"He called his trump" [syn: bid, call]
16: give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance [syn:
call, call off]
17: indicate a decision in regard to; "call balls and strikes
behind the plate"
18: make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome
of an election" [syn: predict, foretell,
prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate,
promise]
19: require the presentation of for redemption before
maturation; "Call a bond"
20: challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge
with or censure for an offense; "He deserves to be called on
that"
21: declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee; "call a
runner out"
22: lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal;
"Call ducks"
23: order or request or give a command for; "The unions called a
general strike for Sunday"
24: order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity,
work, role; "He was already called 4 times for jury duty";
"They called him to active military duty"
25: utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The
auctioneer called the bids"
26: challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of; "call the
speaker on a question of fact"
27: consider or regard as being; "I would not call her
beautiful"
28: rouse somebody from sleep with a call; "I was called at 5
A.M. this morning"