dial

[di·al]

A dial is a circle that has a series of numbers or marks representing numbers, like the dial of a clock face, a compass, or an old fashioned telephone. If you have a watch that glows in the dark, it's the dial you can see even in a dark movie theater.

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An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

Noun
the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours

Noun
a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called

Noun
the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments

Noun
the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning

Verb
choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"

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Verb
operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial"

n.
An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

n.
The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.

n.
A miner's compass.

v. t.
To measure with a dial.

v. t.
To survey with a dial.

Dial

Di"al , n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.] 1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical. 2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. 3. A miner's compass. Dial bird (Zo'94l.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species. -- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated. -- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.

Dial

Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.] 1. To measure with a dial.

Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven.

2. (Mining) To survey with a dial. Raymond.

An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

To measure with a dial.

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Usage Examples

I hate modern car radios. In my car, I don't even have a push-button radio. It's just got a dial and two knobs. Just AM. One knob makes it louder, and one knob changes the station. When you're driving, that's all I want.

Misspelled Form

dial, sdial, edial, fdial, xdial, cdial, sial, eial, fial, xial, cial, dsial, deial, dfial, dxial, dcial, duial, d8ial, d9ial, doial, djial, dkial, dual, d8al, d9al, doal, djal, dkal, diual, di8al, di9al, dioal, dijal, dikal, diqal, diwal, disal, dizal, diql, diwl, disl, dizl, diaql, diawl, diasl, diazl, diakl, diaol, diapl, dia:l, diak, diao, diap, dia:, dialk, dialo, dialp, dial:.

Other Usage Examples

If I could have anyone on speed dial it would be George Clooney. He seems like a cool guy who would give good advice.

Flipping the dial through available radio stations there will blare out to any listener an array of broadcasts, 24/7, propagating Religious Right politics, along with what they deem to be 'old-time gospel preaching.' This is especially true of what comes over the airwaves in Bible Belt southern states.