Adjacent Words

Call definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

CALL, v.t. [Heb. To hold or restrain.] In a general sense, to drive; to strain or force out sound. Hence,
1. To name; to denominate or give a name. And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. Genesis 1.
2. To convoke; to summon; to direct or order to meet; to assemble by order or public notice; often with together; as, the king called his council together; the president called together the congress.
3. To request to meet or come.
He sent his servants to call them that were bidden. Math. 22.
4. To invite.
Because I have called and ye refused. Proverbs 1.
5. To invite or summon to come or be present; to invite, or collect.
Call all your senses to you.
6. To give notice to come by authority; to command to come; as, call a servant.
7. To proclaim; to name, or publish the name.
Nor parish clerk, who calls the psalm so clear.
8. To appoint or designate, as for an office, duty or employment.
See, I have called by name Bezaleel. Exodus 31.
Paul called to be an apostle. Romans 1.
9. To invite; to warn; to exhort. Isa
22:12.
10. To invite or draw into union with Christ; to bring to know, believe and obey the gospel.
Rev
8:28
11. To own and acknowledge. Heb
2:11.
12. To invoke or appeal to.
I call God for a record. 2 Corinthians 1.
13. To esteem or account. Isa
47:5. Mat
3:15.
To call down, to invite, or to bring down.
To call back, to revoke, or retract; to recall; to summon or bring back.
To call for, to demand, require or claim, as a crime calls for punishment; or to cause to grow. Ezek 36. Also, to speak for; to ask; to request; as, to call for a dinner.
To call in, to collect, as to call in debts or money; or to draw from circulation, as to call in clipped coin; or to summon together; to invite to come together; as, to call in neighbors or friends.
To call forth, to bring or summon to action; as, to call forth all the faculties of the mind.
To call off, to summon away; to divert; as, to call off the attention; to call off workmen from their employment.
To call up, to bring into view or recollection; as, to call u the image of a deceased friend; also, to bring into action, or discussion; as, to call up a bill before a legislative body.
To call over, to read a list, name by name; to recite separate particulars in order, as a roll of names.
To call out, to summon to fight; to challenge; also, to summon into service; as, to call out the militia.
To call to mind, to recollect; to revive in memory.
CALL, v.i.
1. To utter a loud sound, or to address by name; to utter the name; sometimes with to.
The angel of God called to Hagar. Genesis 21.
2. To stop, without intention of staying; to make a short stop; as, to call at the inn. This use Johnson supposes to have originated in the custom of denoting ones presence at the door by a call. It is common, in this phrase, to use at, as to call at the inn; or on, as to call on a friend. This application seems to be equivalent to speak, D. Kallen. Let us speak at this place.
To call on, to make a short visit to; also, to solicit payment, or make a demand of a debt. In a theological sense, to pray to or worship; as, to call on the name of the Lord. Genesis 4. To repeat solemnly.
To call out, to utter a loud voice; to bawl; a popular use of the phrase.
CALL, n.
1. A vocal address, of summons or invitation; as, he will not come at a call.
2. Demand; requisition; public claim; as, listen to the calls of justice or humanity.
3. Divine vocation, or summons; as the call of Abraham.
4. Invitation; request of a public body or society; as, a clergyman has a call to settle in the ministry.
5. A summons from heaven; impulse.
St. Paul believed he had a call, when he persecuted the Christians.
6. Authority; command.
7. A short visit; as, to make a call; to give one a call that is, a speaking to; D. Kallen. To give one a call, is to stop a moment and speak or say a word; or to have a short conversation with.
8. Vocation; employment. In this sense calling is generally used.
9. A naming; a nomination.
10. Among hunters, a lesson blown on the horn, to comfort the hounds.
11. Among seamen, a whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to their duty.
12. The English name of the mineral called by the Germans tungsten or wolfram.
13. Among fowlers, the noise or cry of a fowl, or a pipe to call birds by imitating their voice.
14. In legislative bodies, the call of the house, is a calling over the names of the members, to discover who is absent or for other purpose; a calling of names with a view to obtain answers from the person named.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a telephone connection; "she reported several anonymous calls"; "he placed a phone call to London"; "he heard the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call" [syn: call, phone call, telephone call]
2: a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course; "he was disappointed that he had not heard the Call"
3: a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition; "the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience" [syn: cry, outcry, call, yell, shout, vociferation]
4: a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty" [syn: call, claim]
5: the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age" [syn: birdcall, call, birdsong, song]
6: a brief social visit; "senior professors' wives no longer make afternoon calls on newcomers"; "the characters in Henry James' novels are forever paying calls on each other, usually in the parlor of some residence"
7: a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement [syn: margin call, call]
8: a demand for a show of hands in a card game; "after two raises there was a call"
9: a request; "many calls for Christmas stories"; "not many calls for buggywhips"
10: an instruction that interrupts the program being executed; "Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed"
11: a visit in an official or professional capacity; "the pastor's calls on his parishioners"; "the salesman's call on a customer"
12: (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee; "he was ejected for protesting the call"
13: the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date [syn: call option, call] [ant: put, put option] v
1: assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to; "They named their son David"; "The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader" [syn: name, call]
2: ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality; "He called me a bastard"; "She called her children lazy and ungrateful"
3: get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone; "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning" [syn: call, telephone, call up, phone, ring]
4: utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me" [syn: shout, shout out, cry, call, yell, scream, holler, hollo, squall]
5: order, request, or command to come; "She was called into the director's office"; "Call the police!" [syn: call, send for]
6: pay a brief visit; "The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens" [syn: visit, call in, call]
7: call a meeting; invite or command to meet; "The Wannsee Conference was called to discuss the `Final Solution'"; "The new dean calls meetings every week"
8: read aloud to check for omissions or absentees; "Call roll"
9: send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message; "Hawaii is calling!"; "A transmitter in Samoa was heard calling"
10: utter a characteristic note or cry; "bluejays called to one another"
11: stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather; "call a football game"
12: greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name; "He always addresses me with `Sir'"; "Call me Mister"; "She calls him by first name" [syn: address, call]
13: make a stop in a harbour; "The ship will call in Honolulu tomorrow"
14: demand payment of (a loan); "Call a loan" [syn: call, call in]
15: make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands; "He called his trump" [syn: bid, call]
16: give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance [syn: call, call off]
17: indicate a decision in regard to; "call balls and strikes behind the plate"
18: make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election" [syn: predict, foretell, prognosticate, call, forebode, anticipate, promise]
19: require the presentation of for redemption before maturation; "Call a bond"
20: challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense; "He deserves to be called on that"
21: declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee; "call a runner out"
22: lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal; "Call ducks"
23: order or request or give a command for; "The unions called a general strike for Sunday"
24: order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role; "He was already called 4 times for jury duty"; "They called him to active military duty"
25: utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The auctioneer called the bids"
26: challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of; "call the speaker on a question of fact"
27: consider or regard as being; "I would not call her beautiful"
28: rouse somebody from sleep with a call; "I was called at 5 A.M. this morning"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse kalla; akin to Old English hildecalla battle herald, Old High German kall?n to talk loudly, Old Church Slavic glas? voice Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance ; shout <call for help> b. to make a request or demand <call for an investigation> c. of an animal to utter a characteristic note or cry d. to get or try to get into communication by telephone <just called to say hello> — often used with up e. to make a demand in card games (as for a particular card or for a show of hands) f. to give the calls for a square dance 2. to make a brief visit <called to pay his respects> <called on a friend> transitive verb 1. a. (1) to utter in a loud distinct voice — often used with out <call out a number> (2) to announce or read loudly or authoritatively <call the roll> <call off a row of figures> (3) to announce the play-by-play of (as a football game) b. (1) to command or request to come or be present <was called to testify> (2) to cause to come ; bring <calls to mind an old saying> c. to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office <was called to active duty> <was called to the bar of justice> d. to invite or command to meet ; convoke <call a meeting> e. to rouse from sleep or summon to get up f. (1) to give the order for ; bring into action <call a strike against the company> <call a pitchout> (2) to manage by giving the signals or orders <that catcher calls a good game> g. (1) to make a demand in bridge for (a card or suit) (2) to require (a player) to show the hand in poker by making an equal bet (3) to challenge to make good on a statement (4) to charge with or censure for an offense <deserves to be called on that> h. to attract (as game) by imitating the characteristic cry i. to halt (as a baseball game) because of unsuitable conditions j. to rule on the status of (as a pitched ball or a player's action) <call balls and strikes> <call a base runner safe> k. to give the calls for (a square dance) — often used with off l. (1) to demand payment of especially by formal notice <call a loan> (2) to demand presentation of (as a bond or option) for redemption m. (1) to get or try to get in communication with by telephone <call the doctor to make an appointment> (2) to generate signals for (a telephone number) in order to reach the party to whom the number is assigned <call 911> (3) to make a signal to in order to transmit a message <call the flagship> 2. a. to speak of or address by a specified name ; give a name to <call her Kitty> b. (1) to regard or characterize as of a certain kind ; consider <can hardly be called generous> (2) to estimate or consider for purposes of an estimate or for convenience <call it an even dollar> c. (1) to describe correctly in advance of or without knowledge of the event ; predict (2) to name or specify in advance <call the toss of a coin> 3. to temporarily transfer control of computer processing to (as a subroutine or procedure) Synonyms: see summon II. noun Date: 14th century 1. a. an act of calling with the voice ; shout b. an imitation of the cry of a bird or other animal made to attract it c. an instrument used for calling <a duck call> d. the cry of an animal (as a bird) 2. a. a request or command to come or assemble b. a summons or signal on a drum, bugle, or pipe c. admission to the bar as a barrister d. an invitation to become the minister of a church or to accept a professional appointment e. a divine vocation or strong inner prompting to a particular course of action f. a summoning of actors to rehearsal <the call is for 11 o'clock> g. the attraction or appeal of a particular activity, condition, or place <the call of the wild> h. an order specifying the number of men to be inducted into the armed services during a specified period i. the selection of a play in football 3. a. demand, claim b. need, justification <there's no call for such behavior> c. a demand for payment of money d. an option to buy a specified amount of a security (as stock) or commodity (as wheat) at a fixed price at or within a specified time — compare put 2 e. an instance of asking for something ; request <many calls for Christmas stories> 4. roll call 5. a short usually formal visit 6. the name or thing called <the call was heads> 7. the act of calling in a card game 8. the act of calling on the telephone 9. a direction or a succession of directions for a square dance rhythmically called to the dancers 10. a decision or ruling made by an official of a sports contest; also decision 1 <a tough call to make> 11. a temporary transfer of control of computer processing to a particular set of instructions (as a subroutine or procedure)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a (often foll. by out) cry, shout; speak loudly. b (of a bird or animal) emit its characteristic note or cry. 2 tr. communicate or converse with by telephone or radio. 3 tr. a bring to one's presence by calling; summon (will you call the children?). b arrange for (a person or thing) to come or be present (called a taxi). 4 intr. (often foll. by at, in, on) pay a brief visit (called at the house; called in to see you; come and call on me). 5 tr. a order to take place; fix a time for (called a meeting). b direct to happen; announce (call a halt). 6 a intr. require one's attention or consideration (duty calls). b tr. urge, invite, nominate (call to the bar). 7 tr. name; describe as (call her Della). 8 tr. consider; regard or estimate as (I call that silly). 9 tr. rouse from sleep (call me at 8). 10 intr. guess the outcome of tossing a coin etc. 11 intr. (foll. by for) order, require, demand (called for silence). 12 tr. (foll. by over) read out (a list of names to determine those present). 13 intr. (foll. by on, upon) invoke; appeal to; request or require (called on us to be quiet). 14 tr. Cricket (of an umpire) disallow a ball from (a bowler). 15 tr. Cards specify (a suit or contract) in bidding. 16 tr. Sc. drive (an animal, vehicle, etc.). --n. 1 a shout or cry; an act of calling. 2 a the characteristic cry of a bird or animal. b an imitation of this. c an instrument for imitating it. 3 a brief visit (paid them a call). 4 a an act of telephoning. b a telephone conversation. 5 a an invitation or summons to appear or be present. b an appeal or invitation (from a specific source or discerned by a person's conscience etc.) to follow a certain profession, set of principles, etc. 6 (foll. by for, or to + infin.) a duty, need, or occasion (no call to be rude; no call for violence). 7 (foll. by for, on) a demand (not much call for it these days; a call on one's time). 8 a signal on a bugle etc.; a signalling-whistle. 9 Stock Exch. an option of buying stock at a fixed price at a given date. 10 Cards a a player's right or turn to make a bid. b a bid made. Phrases and idioms: at call = on call. call away divert, distract. call-box a public telephone box or kiosk. call-boy a theatre attendant who summons actors when needed on stage. call down 1 invoke. 2 reprimand. call forth elicit. call-girl a prostitute who accepts appointments by telephone. call in tr. 1 withdraw from circulation. 2 seek the advice or services of. calling-card US = visiting-card. call in (or into) question dispute; doubt the validity of. call into play give scope for; make use of. call a person names abuse a person verbally. call off 1 cancel (an arrangement etc.). 2 order (an attacker or pursuer) to desist. call of nature a need to urinate or defecate. call out 1 summon (troops etc.) to action. 2 order (workers) to strike. call-over 1 a roll-call. 2 reading aloud of a list of betting prices. call the shots (or tune) be in control; take the initiative. call-sign (or -signal) a broadcast signal identifying the radio transmitter used. call to account see ACCOUNT. call to mind recollect; cause one to remember. call to order 1 request to be orderly. 2 declare (a meeting) open. call up 1 reach by telephone. 2 imagine, recollect. 3 summon, esp. to serve in the army. call-up n. the act or process of calling up (sense 3). on call 1 (of a doctor etc.) available if required but not formally on duty. 2 (of money lent) repayable on demand. within call near enough to be summoned by calling. Etymology: OE ceallian f. ON kalla

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Call Call (k[add]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Called (k[add]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Calling] [OE. callen, AS. ceallian; akin to Icel. & Sw. kalla, Dan. kalde, D. kallen to talk, prate, OHG. kall[=o]n to call; cf. Gr. ghry`ein to speak, sing, Skr. gar to praise. Cf. Garrulous.] 1. To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant. Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain --Shak. 2. To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for an office, or employment, especially of a religious character; -- often used of a divine summons; as, to be called to the ministry; sometimes, to invite; as, to call a minister to be the pastor of a church. Paul . . . called to be an apostle --Rom. i. 1. The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. --Acts xiii. 2. 3. To invite or command to meet; to convoke; -- often with together; as, the President called Congress together; to appoint and summon; as, to call a meeting of the Board of Aldermen. Now call we our high court of Parliament. --Shak. 4. To give name to; to name; to address, or speak of, by a specifed name. If you would but call me Rosalind. --Shak. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. --Gen. i. 5. 5. To regard or characterize as of a certain kind; to denominate; to designate. What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. --Acts x. 15. 6. To state, or estimate, approximately or loosely; to characterize without strict regard to fact; as, they call the distance ten miles; he called it a full day's work. [The] army is called seven hundred thousand men. --Brougham. 7. To show or disclose the class, character, or nationality of. [Obs.] This speech calls him Spaniard. --Beau. & Fl. 8. To utter in a loud or distinct voice; -- often with off; as, to call, or call off, the items of an account; to call the roll of a military company. No parish clerk who calls the psalm so clear. --Gay. 9. To invoke; to appeal to. I call God for a witness. --2 Cor. i. 23 [Rev. Ver. ] 10. To rouse from sleep; to awaken. If thou canst awake by four o' the clock. I prithee call me. Sleep hath seized me wholly. --Shak. To call a bond, to give notice that the amount of the bond will be paid. To call a party (Law), to cry aloud his name in open court, and command him to come in and perform some duty requiring his presence at the time on pain of what may befall him. To call back, to revoke or retract; to recall; to summon back. To call down, to pray for, as blessing or curses. To call forth, to bring or summon to action; as, to call forth all the faculties of the mind. To call in, (a) To collect; as, to call in debts or money; ar to withdraw from cirulation; as, to call in uncurrent coin. (b) To summon to one's side; to invite to come together; as, to call in neighbors. To call (any one) names, to apply contemptuous names (to any one). To call off, to summon away; to divert; as, to call off the attention; to call off workmen from their employment. To call out. (a) To summon to fight; to challenge. (b) To summon into service; as, to call out the militia. To call over, to recite separate particulars in order, as a roll of names. To call to account, to demand explanation of. To call to mind, to recollect; to revive in memory. To call to order, to request to come to order; as: (a) A public meeting, when opening it for business. (b) A person, when he is transgressing the rules of debate. To call to the bar, to admit to practice in courts of law. To call up. (a) To bring into view or recollection; as to call up the image of deceased friend. (b) To bring into action or discussion; to demand the consideration of; as, to call up a bill before a legislative body. Syn: To name; denominate; invite; bid; summon; convoke; assemble; collect; exhort; warn; proclaim; invoke; appeal to; designate. Usage: To Call, Convoke, Summon. Call is the generic term; as, to call a public meeting. To convoke is to require the assembling of some organized body of men by an act of authority; as, the king convoked Parliament. To summon is to require attendance by an act more or less stringent anthority; as, to summon a witness.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Call Call, n. 1. The act of calling; -- usually with the voice, but often otherwise, as by signs, the sound of some instrument, or by writing; a summons; an entreaty; an invitation; as, a call for help; the bugle's call. ``Call of the trumpet.'' --Shak. I rose as at thy call, but found thee not. --Milton. 2. A signal, as on a drum, bugle, trumpet, or pipe, to summon soldiers or sailors to duty. 3. (Eccl.) An invitation to take charge of or serve a church as its pastor. 4. A requirement or appeal arising from the circumstances of the case; a moral requirement or appeal. Dependence is a perpetual call upon humanity. --Addison. Running into danger without any call of duty. --Macaulay. 5. A divine vocation or summons. St. Paul himself believed he did well, and that he had a call to it, when he persecuted the Christians. --Locke. 6. Vocation; employment. Note: [In this sense, calling is generally used.] 7. A short visit; as, to make a call on a neighbor; also, the daily coming of a tradesman to solicit orders. The baker's punctual call. --Cowper. 8. (Hunting) A note blown on the horn to encourage the hounds. 9. (Naut.) A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to duty. 10. (Fowling) The cry of a bird; also a noise or cry in imitation of a bird; or a pipe to call birds by imitating their note or cry. 11. (Amer. Land Law) A reference to, or statement of, an object, course, distance, or other matter of description in a survey or grant requiring or calling for a corresponding object, etc., on the land. 12. The privilege to demand the delivery of stock, grain, or any commodity, at a fixed, price, at or within a certain time agreed on. [Brokers' Cant] 13. See Assessment, 4. At call, or On call, liable to be demanded at any moment without previous notice; as money on deposit. Call bird, a bird taught to allure others into a snare. Call boy (a) A boy who calls the actors in a theater; a boy who transmits the orders of the captain of a vessel to the engineer, helmsman, etc. (b) A waiting boy who answers a cal, or cames at the ringing of a bell; a bell boy. Call note, the note naturally used by the male bird to call the female. It is artificially applied by birdcatchers as a decoy. --Latham. Call of the house (Legislative Bodies), a calling over the names of members, to discover who is absent, or for other purposes; a calling of names with a view to obtaining the ayes and noes from the persons named. Call to the bar, admission to practice in the courts.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Call Call, v. i. 1. To speak in loud voice; to cry out; to address by name; -- sometimes with to. You must call to the nurse. --Shak. The angel of God called to Hagar. --Gen. xxi. 17. 2. To make a demand, requirement, or request. They called for rooms, and he showed them one. --Bunyan. 3. To make a brief visit; also, to stop at some place designated, as for orders. He ordered her to call at the house once a week. --Temple. To call for (a) To demand; to require; as, a crime calls for punishment; a survey, grant, or deed calls for the metes and bounds, or the quantity of land, etc., which it describes. (b) To give an order for; to request. ``Whenever the coach stopped, the sailor called for more ale.'' --Marryat. To call on, To call upon, (a) To make a short visit to; as, call on a friend. (b) To appeal to; to invite; to request earnestly; as, to call upon a person to make a speech. (c) To solicit payment, or make a demand, of a debt. (d) To invoke or play to; to worship; as, to call upon God. To call out To call or utter loudly; to brawl.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(calls, calling, called) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you call someone or something by a particular name or title, you give them that name or title. 'Doctor...'—'Will you please call me Sarah?'... Everybody called each other by their surnames. VERB: V n n, V n by n • called There are two men called Buckley at the Home Office. ...a device called an optical amplifier. ADJ: v-link ADJ 2. If you call someone or something a particular thing, you suggest they are that thing or describe them as that thing. The speech was interrupted by members of the Conservative Party, who called him a traitor... She calls me lazy and selfish... He called it particularly cynical to begin releasing the hostages on Christmas Day... Anyone can call themselves a psychotherapist. VERB: V n n, V n adj, V it adj to-inf, V pron-refl n 3. If you call something, you say it in a loud voice, because you are trying to attract someone's attention. He could hear the others downstairs in different parts of the house calling his name... 'Boys!' she called again. VERB: V n, V with quote • Call out means the same as call. The butcher's son called out a greeting... The train stopped and a porter called out, 'Middlesbrough!' PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron), V P with quote, also V n P 4. If you call someone, you telephone them. Would you call me as soon as you find out?... A friend of mine gave me this number to call... 'May I speak with Mr Coyne, please?'—'May I ask who's calling?' = phone VERB: V n, V n, V 5. If you call someone such as a doctor or the police, you ask them to come to you, usually by telephoning them. He screamed for his wife to call an ambulance... One night he was called to see a woman with tuberculosis. VERB: V n, be V-ed to-inf 6. If you call someone, you ask them to come to you by shouting to them. She called her young son: 'Here, Stephen, come and look at this!'... He called me over the Tannoy. VERB: V n, V n prep 7. When you make a telephone call, you telephone someone. I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend... I've had hundreds of calls from other victims... N-COUNT 8. If someone in authority calls something such as a meeting, rehearsal, or election, they arrange for it to take place at a particular time. The Committee decided to call a meeting of the All India Congress... The RSC was calling a press conference to announce the theatre's closure... VERB: V n, V n 9. If someone is called before a court or committee, they are ordered to appear there, usually to give evidence. The child waited two hours before she was called to give evidence... I was called as an expert witness. = summon VERB: usu passive, be V-ed to-inf, be V-ed prep 10. If you call somewhere, you make a short visit there. A market researcher called at the house where he was living... Andrew now came almost weekly to call. VERB: V prep/adv, V • Call is also a noun. He decided to pay a call on Tommy Cummings. N-COUNT 11. When a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there for a short time to allow people to get on or off. The steamer calls at several ports along the way. VERB: V prep/adv 12. To call a game or sporting event means to cancel it, for example because of rain or bad light. (AM) We called the next game. = call off VERB: V n 13. If there is a call for something, someone demands that it should happen. There have been calls for a new kind of security arrangement... Almost all workers heeded a call by the trade unions to stay at home for the duration of the strike. N-COUNT: usu N for n, N to-inf 14. If there is little or no call for something, very few people want it to be done or provided. 'Have you got just plain chocolate?'—'No, I'm afraid there's not much call for that.' = demand N-UNCOUNT: with brd-neg, N for n 15. The call of something such as a place is the way it attracts or interests you strongly. = pull, lure N-SING: with poss 16. The call of a particular bird or animal is the characteristic sound that it makes. ...a wide range of animal noises and bird calls. N-COUNT 17. see also calling, so-called 18. If you say that there is no call for someone to behave in a particular way, you are criticizing their behaviour, usually because you think it is rude. There was no call for him to single you out from all the others. = there is no need for PHRASE: PHR n to-inf, PHR n [disapproval] 19. If someone is on call, they are ready to go to work at any time if they are needed, especially if there is an emergency. In theory I'm on call day and night. ...a doctor on call. PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR 20. If you call in sick, you telephone the place where you work to tell them you will not be coming to work because you are ill. 'Shouldn't you be at work today?'—'I called in sick.' PHRASE: V inflects 21. to call someone's bluff: see bluff to call it a day: see day to call a halt: see halt to call something to mind: see mind call of nature: see nature to call something your own: see own to call something into question: see question to call it quits: see quit to call a spade a spade: see spade to call the tune: see tune too close to call: see close

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) To cry for help, hence to pray (Gen. 4:26). Thus men are said to "call upon the name of the Lord" (Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:14; Rom. 10:12; 1 Cor. 1:2).

(2.) God calls with respect to men when he designates them to some special office (Ex. 31:2; Isa. 22:20; Acts 13:2), and when he invites them to accept his offered grace (Matt. 9:13; 11:28; 22:4).

In the message of the gospel his call is addressed to all men, to Jews and Gentiles alike (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15; Rom. 9:24, 25). But this universal call is not inseparably connected with salvation, although it leaves all to whom it comes inexcusable if they reject it (John 3:14-19; Matt. 22:14).

An effectual call is something more than the outward message of the Word of God to men. It is internal, and is the result of the enlightening and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit (John 16:14; Acts 26: 18; John 6:44), effectually drawing men to Christ, and disposing and enabling them to receive the truth (John 6:45; Acts 16:14; Eph. 1:17).

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. a. 1. Name, term, denominate, entitle, style, phrase, designate, dub, christen. 2. Bid, invite, summon, ask to come, send for. 3. Convoke, assemble, convene, muster, call together. 4. Appoint, designate, elect, ordain, set apart. 5. Invoke, appeal to. II. v. n. 1. Exclaim, cry, cry out, speak aloud, make appeal. 2. Make a short visit. III. n. 1. Cry, outcry, voice. 2. Invitation, summons, appeal. 3. Demand, claim, requisition. 4. Short visit. 5. Appointment, election, invitation. 6. Divine summons, divine choice or election.

Moby Thesaurus

Angelus, Angelus bell, DDD, accompany, address, adjuration, adumbrate, alarm, alarum, allurement, animal noise, ante, ante up, antecedents, apostleship, apostrophize, appeal, appeal to, appraise, appreciate, approximate, ask, ask for, assemble, assess, attend, attractiveness, augur, awake, awaken, back, baptize, bark, barking, base, basis, battle cry, bawl, bay, beck, beck and call, bell, bellow, beseechment, bet, bet on, bid, bid come, biddance, bidding, bill, birdcall, blackmail, blare, blat, blate, bleat, bray, bugle call, busy signal, buzz, cackle, call, call away, call back, call down, call for, call forth, call in, call off, call on, call out, call together, call up, call upon, call-up, calling, calling forth, cancel, care of souls, carol, cast lots, castigate, caterwaul, causation, cause, cause and effect, caw, challenge, chastise, chatter, cheep, cheer, chirk, chirp, chirr, chirrup, chitter, christen, chuck, cite, clack, claim, clamor, clang, class, cluck, cock-a-doodle-doo, collect, come by, come over, command, compulsory military service, conjure, conjure up, conscript, conscription, contribution, convene, convocation, convoke, coo, cover, croak, cronk, crow, cry, cry out, cuckoo, cut lots, cut the cards, define, demand, demand for, demand payment, denominate, denote, designate, determinant, determinative, dial, dial tone, direct distance dialing, discontinue, draft, draft call, drafting, drain, draw, draw lots, draw on, draw straws, drawing power, drop in, drum, dub, dun, duty, duty visit, element, elicit, engraved invitation, enlist, enlistment, enrollment, entitle, entreat, entreaty, estimate, etiology, evaluate, evocation, evoke, exact, exaction, excuse, extortion, extortionate demand, factor, fade, fetch, figure, forecast, form an estimate, formal visit, foundation, gabble, gaggle, gamble, game, gather, gauge, get, give a ring, give an appreciation, give tongue, give voice, gobble, good reason, ground, grounds, grunt, guess, guggle, hail, halloo, hang up, hazard, heavy demand, hold the phone, holler, hollo, holy orders, honk, hoo, hoot, howl, howling, hurrah, identify, imploration, imploring, imposition, impost, imprecation, impressment, indent, induction, insistent demand, inspire, invitation, invite, invocation, invocatory plea, invoice, invoke, issue an invitation, judge, justification, knock up, label, last post, lay, lay a wager, lay down, levy, listen in, local call, long distance, long-distance call, look in, look up, lot, low, lure, mad round, make a bet, make a call, make an estimation, mark, match coins, material basis, mating call, measure, meet a bet, meow, mew, mewl, miaow, mobile call, mobilization, moo, moose call, muster, muster up, name, necessity, need, neigh, nicker, nickname, nod, nonnegotiable demand, note, notice, notification, obligation, obsecration, obtestation, occasion, on call, on duty, option, order, order up, page, parlay, pass, pastorage, pastoral care, pastorate, peep, person-to-person call, petition, phone, phone call, pick up, pip, pipe, place, play, play against, play at dice, play the ponies, plea, plunge, pop in, portend, postpone, postulate, prayer, preconization, preconize, predict, presage, press, priesthood, priestship, principle, prize, prognosticate, prophesy, pule, pull, punt, put, put and call, quack, rabbinate, raffle off, rally, rallying cry, rank, rate, ready, reason, rebel yell, rebuke, recall, reckon, recruit, recruiting, recruitment, reprimand, reprove, request, require, required visit, requirement, requisition, reveille, right, ring, ring off, ring up, roar, rogation, roll, round up, rouse, run in, rush, rush order, sacred calling, scold, screak, scream, screech, seduction, see, selective service, send a statement, send after, send for, serve, shoot craps, shout, shriek, shrill, sing, social call, social round, social whirl, solicit, song, specify, speculate, sport, spread, squall, squawk, squeak, squeal, stake, stand pat, station-to-station call, stimulus, stock option, straddle, strap, stridulation, strip, style, subpoena, substance, suit, summon, summon forth, summon up, summons, supplicate, supplication, tag, taps, tax, taxing, telephone, telephone call, term, the church, the cloth, the desk, the ministry, the pulpit, tinkle, title, toll call, toss, tribute, trill, troat, trumpet call, tweet, twit, twitter, ultimatum, ululate, ululation, upbraid, valuate, value, vaticinate, visit, visitation, visiting, vocation, vociferate, wager, wail, wake up, war cry, war whoop, warble, warning, warrant, whicker, whine, whinny, whistle, whoop, within call, woodnote, yammer, yap, yawl, yawp, yell, yelp, yip, yo-ho, yowl