'Dial' definitions:

Definition of 'dial'

(from WordNet)
noun
The face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
noun
The control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning
noun
The circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments
noun
A disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called [syn: dial, telephone dial]
verb
Operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial"
verb
Choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"

Definition of 'Dial'

From: GCIDE
  • Dial \Di"al\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialedor Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.]
  • 1. To measure with a dial. [1913 Webster]
  • Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven. --Talfourd. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. (Mining) To survey with a dial. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Dial'

From: GCIDE
  • 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. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. A miner's compass. [1913 Webster]
  • Dial bird (Zool.), 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'dial'

From: Easton
  • Dial for the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible, erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8). The Hebrew word (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex. 20:26, 1 Kings 10:19, and "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9, 10, 11. The _ma'aloth_ was probably stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of steps, according as the sun was low or high.
  • Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at Babylon (Dan. 3:6) is the first to make mention of the "hour."

Synonyms of 'dial'

From: Moby Thesaurus

Words containing 'Dial'