call

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
call/kɔːl/

▶verb

• 1 cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention.

  ■ telephone.

  ■ bring (a witness) into court to give evidence.

  ■ Bridge make (a particular bid) during the auction.

• 2 (of an animal, especially a bird) make its characteristic cry.

• 3 give a specified name to.

  ■ address by a specified name, title, etc.

  ■ consider or describe (someone or something) as being: he's the only person I would call a friend.

• 4 pay a brief visit.

  ■ (call for) stop to collect.

  ■ (call at) (of a train or coach) stop at (a specified station) on a particular route.

• 5 fix a date or time for (a meeting, strike, or election).

  ■ predict the outcome of (a future event).

• 6 dated inspire or urge to do something.

• 7 Computing cause the execution of (a subroutine).

• 8 Cricket (of an umpire) no-ball (a bowler) for throwing.

▶noun

• 1 a cry made as a summons or to attract attention.

  ■ a telephone communication.

  ■ Bridge a bid, response, or double.

• 2 the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal.

• 3 (call for) an appeal or demand for.

  ■ [usu. with neg.] demand or need for: there is little call for antique furniture.

• 4 a brief visit.

• 5 a vocation: his call to be a disciple.

• 6 a shout by an official in a game indicating that the ball has gone out of play or that a rule has been breached.

– phrases
at call see on call (sense 2).
call attention to cause people to notice.
call something into (or in) question cast doubt on something.
the call of nature euphemistic a need to urinate or defecate.
call the shots (or tune) take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.
call someone/thing to order ask those present at a meeting to be silent so that business may proceed.
on call

• 1 available to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty.

• 2 (of money lent) repayable on demand.

– phrasal verbs
call for require; demand.
call someone/thing down cause someone or something to appear or occur.
call something in require payment of a loan or promise of money.
call something off cancel an event or agreement.
call on/upon have recourse to.
call someone up summon someone to serve in the army or to play in a team.
call something up summon for use something that is stored or kept available.

– derivatives
caller noun.

– origin OE ceallian, from ON kalla ‘summon loudly’.