call

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"

a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course; "he was disappointed that he had not heard the Call"

a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition; "the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience"

a demand especially in the phrase "the call of duty"

the characteristic sound produced by a bird; "a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age"

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"

a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement

a demand for a show of hands in a card game; "after two raises there was a call"

a request; "many calls for Christmas stories"; "not many calls for buggywhips"

an instruction that interrupts the program being executed; "Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed"

a visit in an official or professional capacity; "the pastor's calls on his parishioners"; "the salesman's call on a customer"

(sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee; "he was ejected for protesting the call"

the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to; "They named their son David"; "The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader"

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"

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"

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"

order, request, or command to come; "She was called into the director's office"; "Call the police!"

pay a brief visit; "The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens"

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"

read aloud to check for omissions or absentees; "Call roll"

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"

utter a characteristic note or cry; "bluejays called to one another"

stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather; "call a football game"

greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name; "He always addresses me with `Sir'"; "Call me Mister"; "She calls him by first name"

make a stop in a harbour; "The ship will call in Honolulu tomorrow"

demand payment of (a loan); "Call a loan"

make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands; "He called his trump"

give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance

indicate a decision in regard to; "call balls and strikes behind the plate"

make a prediction about; tell in advance; "Call the outcome of an election"

require the presentation of for redemption before maturation; "Call a bond"

challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense; "He deserves to be called on that"

declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee; "call a runner out"

lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal; "Call ducks"

order or request or give a command for; "The unions called a general strike for Sunday"

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"

utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The auctioneer called the bids"

challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of; "call the speaker on a question of fact"

consider or regard as being; "I would not call her beautiful"

rouse somebody from sleep with a call; "I was called at 5 A.M. this morning"