n (1)电话(way of sending and receiving spoken messages and other sounds from one place to another by electrical signals，either along wires or by radio)[U]： reach/tell sb the news by～ 用电话和某人联系/告诉某人这个消息; radio～无线电话; a～wire/operator/bill/directory/book/number/exchange/booth/-box 电话线/电话接线员/电话交费单/电话本/电话本/电话号码/电话局(交换台)/电话亭/电话亭;

(2)电话机(instrument for speaking to sb from a distance，with a receiver and mouthpiece)[C]：pick up/answer the～拿起/接电话;He has three～s on his desk. 在他桌上有三部电话机。

on the telephone 1)装有电话：(sb) be not on the～(某人)现在没有装电话;2)通电话：Your mother was on the～earlier. 你母亲早些时候来过电话。

v 打电话(speak to sb by means of the telephone)[I，T+n，T+n+prep]：Write or～? 写信还是打电话?～one's aunt/the office 给姨妈/办公室打电话;～an order/a reply电话订购(东西)/答复(某事);～details/one's congratulations 打电话告知细节/表示祝贺;I've just been～ing to him. 我刚才一直在给他打电话。～for a taxi/the doctor/an ambulance 打电话叫出租车/医生/救护车;Can you～from England to Australia? 你能把电话从英格兰打到澳大利亚吗?

→͵tele′phonic adj 电话的;电话机的;用电话传送的;te′lephonist n 电话接线员;话务员;te′lephony n 电话学;通话