verb
calls; called; calling
a always followed by an adverb or preposition :to speak in a loud voice [no obj]
[+ obj] :to announce or read (something) in a loud voice
[no obj] of a bird or animal :to make the sound that is usual for a particular type of bird or animal
to make a telephone call [no obj]
[+ obj] to tell, order, or ask (someone or something) to come
to make a telephone call to tell, order, or ask (someone or something) to come
[+ obj] to give a name to (someone or something)
to talk to or refer to (someone or something) with a specified name
to regard or think of (someone or something) in a certain way
[+ obj] :to give the order for (something, such as a meeting)
[no obj] :to make a brief visit
[+ obj] :to say or guess what the result of something will be
[+ obj] sports
to stop or cancel (something, such as a baseball game) because of bad conditions
to make an official ruling or decision about (something, such as a pitched ball or a player's action)
c American football :to say or decide what kind of play will be used
poker :to require (a player) to show a hand by making an equal bet [+ obj]
call a spade a spade
call at
[phrasal verb]
call at (a place) of a boat or ship :to stop at (a place) briefly
call down
[phrasal verb]
call down (something) or call (something) down literary :to pray or ask God to do something to someone
call for
[phrasal verb]
call for (something)
to say or demand publicly that something is needed or should be done
to indicate that something is needed or should be done
to require or demand (something) as necessary or proper
call for (someone or something) :to go to a place to get (someone or something)
call forth
[phrasal verb]
call forth (something) or call (something) forth :to bring (a memory, image, etc.) into the mind
call 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
c call (something) in or call in (something) :to deliver (something, such as a message) by making a telephone call
to go in somewhere to make a visit - often + on
call (something) in or call in (something)
to say that something that has been given or sent should be returned
to demand payment of (a loan)
call (someone) in or call in (someone) :to ask for the help or services of (someone)
call into action
call into question
also US call into doubt
to make people doubt something
call it a day/night
to stop an activity (such as work) for the remainder of the day or night
call it quits
call off
[phrasal verb]
call off (something) or call (something) off :to stop doing or planning to do (something)
call off (someone or something) or call (someone or something) off :to cause or tell (a person or animal) to stop attacking, chasing, etc.
call on/upon
[phrasal verb]
call on/upon (someone or something) :to ask (someone or something) to do something :to say that someone or something should do something - followed by to + verb
call on/upon (someone) :to ask for help from (someone)
call on/upon (something) :to use (something, such as a talent or skill)
call on (someone) :to ask for a response from (someone, such as a student)
call on (someone) :to make a brief visit to (someone)
call (someone) on (something) US informal :to directly criticize (someone) for (something, such as bad behavior)
call out
[phrasal verb]
call out or call (something) out or call out (something) :to speak in a loud voice
call out (someone) or call (someone) out
to order or tell (a group of people, such as soldiers) to come or go somewhere
to order or tell (workers) to go on strike
call (someone) on the carpet
call (something) to order
call the shots
call the tune
call time
call to account
call to mind
call up
[phrasal verb]
call (someone) up or call up (someone) chiefly US :to make a telephone call to (someone)
call (something) up or call up (something)
to bring (something, such as a memory) into the mind
to bring (strength, courage, etc.) from within yourself
to get (something) from the memory of a computer and show it on the screen
call (someone) up or call up (someone)
to order or tell (someone) to come or appear
to bring (an athlete) to a higher league
to order (soldiers) to come for active military duty
call your bluff
noun
plural calls
[count] :an act of using the telephone :an act of calling someone on the telephone
[count] an act of calling with the voice :a loud cry or shout
the sound made by an animal or bird
an imitation of the sound made by a bird or animal
a device that is used to imitate the sound made by a bird
a loud sound or signal made with a musical instrument
[count] :a public request or statement that asks or tells people to do something
a request for something [count]
[noncount] :a reason for doing something - used in negative statements to criticize someone's behavior
[count] :a brief visit
[count] :something that is called or announced
[count] a decision made by an official in a sports contest
b chiefly US :a decision
[singular] :the appeal or attraction of something that makes a person want to go somewhere
[count] :something that requires a person's attention or effort - + on
at someone's beck and call
on call
available to be called when needed :ready to come when needed