Tell - Definition
tell
n 1: a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who
was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to
legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple
from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did
successfully without mishap) [syn: Tell, William Tell]
v 1: express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her";
"tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion";
"state your name" [syn: state, say, tell]
2: let something be known; "Tell them that you will be late"
3: narrate or give a detailed account of; "Tell what happened";
"The father told a story to his child" [syn: tell,
narrate, recount, recite]
4: give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with
authority; "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do
the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed"
[syn: order, tell, enjoin, say]
5: discern or comprehend; "He could tell that she was unhappy"
6: inform positively and with certainty and confidence; "I tell
you that man is a crook!" [syn: assure, tell]
7: give evidence; "he was telling on all his former colleague"
[syn: tell, evidence]
8: mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
[syn: distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern,
secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell
apart]