call
verb
uk/kɔːl/ us [ I or T ] COMMUNICATIONS
to phone someone:
I'll tell Mr Baker you called. Would you like me to pass on any message?
Please call us as soon as possible so that we can resolve this issue.
call collect US (also reverse (the) charges)
COMMUNICATIONS
to make a phone call that is paid for by the person who receives it:
To call collect from overseas, you need to reach an international operator.
[ T ]
to ask or demand that a particular action should be taken or that a particular event should happen:
call an election/meeting/strike An emergency meeting of the board was called for the next day.
call for order (also call sb/sth to order)
MEETINGS, LAW
to ask people in a meeting or law court to be quiet so that the meeting or legal action can continue:
The senator called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order.
A deputy called for order in the courtroom.
[ T ] FINANCE (also call sth in)
to say officially that borrowed money must be paid back:
call (in) a debt/loan The contract gives the lender the right to call a loan if the borrower sells the property.
call (in) a bond
FINANCE
to pay back money to a person or organization holding a bond before the date when the bond matures (= when it would normally be paid back):
When interest rates plunge, a company may decide to call a bond.
[ T ]
to ask someone to come to a place:
call sb in/into/over He was called into a manager's office and told that, after 26 years of service, he was no longer needed.
She called me over and asked if I was interested in applying for the job.
[ I ]
to visit a person or place for a short time:
A salesman called at my home.
[ T ] informal
to say that a particular event or action will happen in the future:
He claims to have called the downturn in the economy nearly four years ago.
[ T ] LAW
to make someone say what they know about a situation, in a court of law or to a government official or group:
The committee can call witnesses and compel them to answer questions.
Phrasal verbs
call back
call (sb) back
call sth back
call for sth
call in
call sb in
call sth in
call sth off
call on/upon sb
call on/upon sth
call (sb) up
call sth up
call
noun
uk/kɔːl/ us [ C ] COMMUNICATIONS
an act of communicating with someone by phone:
a phone/telephone call I'm expecting a phone call from him this morning.
a local/international/long-distance call The company is dropping international call charges to over 20 countries.
make/place a call We're not allowed to make private calls at work.
get/receive/take a call Thank you for taking my call.
return sb's call He was busy when I contacted him and he didn't return my calls.
See also
cold-call
conference call
courtesy call
toll call
[ C ]
a short visit, especially one for a particular or official purpose:
a customer/sales call
pay a call on sb While I was in the area, I took the opportunity of paying a call on one of my clients.
See also
courtesy call
[ C ]
a demand for something to happen:
a call for sth Yesterday there were renewed calls for a change in the law.
[ C or U ]
a situation in which people or businesses want or need a particular thing:
a call for/on sth Energy efficiency and conservation could lead to a reduced call for exports.
no call for sth There is no call for such luxuries in the present economic climate.
He was finding that there were a numbers of calls on his time in his new role.
[ C ] STOCK MARKET
a demand made by a company to shareholders for payment of money they owe for shares for which they have paid only part of the price:
Shareholders received notice of a call of 40 cents per share on all partly paid-up shares.
FINANCE
a demand for money that is owed to be paid back:
Your loan may contain a call provision if you fall behind on your payments.
See also
cash call
margin call
[ C ] FINANCE
call option
at/on call
FINANCE, STOCK MARKET
used to describe a loan that must be paid back immediately upon the request of the financial organization lending the money:
Many banks have money market loans at call with discount houses.
BANKING
used to describe a bank account from which you can take money out when you ask for it:
All our accounts are at-call accounts that require no minimum deposit or balance.
on call
HR
available to work when needed:
He is on call round-the-clock two weeks each month.