dial
part of speech
noun (a dial, dials); verb (dial, dials, dialled/dialed, dialling/dialing)
meaning for a pupil
1) A dial is the round face of a clock, watch or measuring instrument, with numbers and a pointer. tree →
2) A dial is a round control that you turn to change something, like the volume or the oven temperature. tree →
3) To dial a number is to press or turn the numbers to make a phone call. tree →
sense in the lessons
In maths and science, reading a dial is like reading a scale: look where the pointer is and count the steps between the numbers. In everyday life and safety you dial 999 (UK, Ireland), 911 (USA, Canada), 000 (Australia) or 111 (New Zealand) in an emergency. Phrases: dial a number, turn the dial, a clock dial, dial up, dial down.
examples
- Turn the dial to make the radio louder. tree →
- The pointer on the dial showed 40 degrees. tree →
- In an emergency, dial 999. tree →
- She dialled her grandma's number. tree →
- The kitchen scales have a dial instead of a screen. tree →
- The watch has a blue dial. tree →
- Read the dial carefully before you write down the reading. tree →
- But go to my brother who grows round the old sun-dial, and perhaps he will give you what you want.” tree →
note
Verb spelling: British dialled, dialling (double l); American dialed, dialing. Countable noun: a dial, dials. Maths trap: when reading a dial, check what each small mark stands for; it may count by 2, 5 or 10.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «dial» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.