pocket dial
A situation in which one's cellphone makes a call from one's pocket when its buttons are inadvertently pressed.
But consider this first: How do you know that he really meant to call you and this wasn't just an accidental pocket dial?
dial
/ˈdaɪ.əl/
noun 5verb 5name 1
Collocations
2(noun.)
VERB + DIAL
adjust, set, turn, twiddle, twist
She twisted the dial on the oven to preheat it to 350 degrees.
(verb.)
ADV
direct
You can dial direct to Australia without going through an operator.
Definitions
noun
1
A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
Holonyms: (often holonymous) instrument, gauge
The dial on the dashboard showed the car was nearly out of gas.
2
A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).
3
A sundial.
4
A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.
Turn the dial to Radio 4: my favourite show is on!
5
A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.
His hands were too fat to operate the dial on the telephone.
verb
1
To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.
The lead guitarist for the rock band Spinal Tap dialed his amplifier to 11.
The president has recently dialled down the rhetoric.
2
To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone, regardless of whether a physical dial is present.
In an emergency dial 999.
3
To use a dial or a telephone.
Please be careful when dialling.
4
To initiate a connection to a remote computer service such as a database.
The application failed when attempting to dial the Postgres server, because there were too many open connections.
5
To use a dial-up modem to connect a personal computer to the Internet.
I always check my guestbook when I dial, just in case anyone saw my Web site.
name
1
A surname.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
dial down
To reduce or diminish in effect or intensity.
Let's dial down the anger in this conversation.
dial back
To reduce (one's energy or intensity); to restrain (a feeling or action).
The Des Moines station asked him to dial back his coverage, facing what he called an understandable pressure to maintain ratings.
reset the dial
To change something radically; to reform or revolutionize something.
While contemporary designers give us trends, Quant reset the dial on the way we get dressed. Under her influence, women rejected their parents’ vision of beauty and embraced their
shift the dial
To make a significant change or impact in a particular situation or context.
The influential speech by the politician aimed to shift the dial on public opinion regarding climate change.
Example Bank
601
Holonyms: (often holonymous) instrument, gauge
Wiktionary02
The dial on the dashboard showed the car was nearly out of gas.
Wiktionary03
Turn the dial to Radio 4: my favourite show is on!
Wiktionary04
The lead guitarist for the rock band Spinal Tap dialed his amplifier to 11.
Wiktionary05
The president has recently dialled down the rhetoric.
Wiktionary06
In an emergency dial 999.
WiktionaryUsage Notes
i Register
In some senses, dial is marked as dated. Watch for register when choosing this word.
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