dial

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
dial/ˈdʌɪəl/

▶noun

• 1 a disc marked to show the time on a clock or indicate a reading or measurement by means of a pointer.

  ■ a disc with numbered holes on a telephone, turned to make a call.

  ■ a disc turned to select a setting on a radio, cooker, etc.

• 2 Brit. informal a person's face.

▶verb (dials, dialling, dialled; US dials, dialing, dialed) call (a telephone number) by turning a dial or using a keypad.

■ indicate or regulate by means of a dial.

■ (dial something up) gain access to a service using a telephone line.

– origin ME: from med. L. diale ‘clock dial’, based on L. dies ‘day’.