call

views updated May 21 2018

call / kôl/ • v. 1. [tr.] cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention: she heard Terry calling her | [intr.] I distinctly heard you call. ∎  cry out (a word or words): he heard an insistent voice calling his name Meredith was already calling out a greeting. ∎  shout out or chant (the steps and figures) to people performing a square dance or country dance. ∎  [intr.] (of an animal, esp. a bird) make its characteristic cry. ∎  telephone (a person or telephone number): could I call you back? ∎  summon (something, esp. an emergency service or a taxicab) by telephone: call the police. ∎  bring (a witness) into court to give evidence. ∎  [tr.] archaic inspire or urge (someone) to do something. ∎  fix a date or time for (a meeting, strike, or election). ∎  [intr.] guess the outcome of tossing a coin: “You call,” he said. “Heads or tails?” ∎  predict the result of (a future event, esp. an election or a vote): in the Northeast, the race remains too close to call. ∎  Comput. cause the execution of (a subroutine).2. [intr.] (of a person) pay a brief visit. ∎  (call for) stop to pick up (someone) at the place where they are living or working.3. [tr.] give (an infant or animal) a specified name: they called their daughter Hannah. ∎  address or refer to (someone) by a specified name, title, endearment, or term of abuse: please call me Lucy. ∎  refer to, consider, or describe (someone or something) as being: he's the only person I would call a friend. ∎  (of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, or other action) to be the thing specified: the linesman called the ball wide.• n. 1. a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention: in response to the call, a figure appeared. ∎  the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal. ∎  a series of notes sounded on a brass instrument as a signal to do something: a bugle call to rise at 5:30. ∎  a telephone communication or conversation: I'll give you a call at around five. ∎  (a call for) an appeal or demand for: the call for action was welcomed. ∎  a summons: his call to the throne. ∎  [in sing.] a vocation: his call to be a disciple. ∎  [in sing.] a powerful force of attraction: hikers can't resist the call of the Sierras. ∎  (a call for) a demand or need for (goods or services): there was little call for Turkish food in Milltown. ∎  Comput. a command to execute a subroutine. ∎  a shout by an official in a game indicating whether the ball has gone out of play, if a rule has been breached, etc.; the decision or ruling so made: the umpire made a bad call. ∎  Bridge a bid, response, or double. ∎  a direction in a square dance given by the caller. ∎  a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital. ∎  Stock Market short for call option. ∎  a player's right or turn to make a bid in a card game.2. a brief visit: we paid a call on Howard. ∎  a visit or journey made in response to an emergency appeal for help: the doctor was out on a call.PHRASES: call attention to cause people to notice: he is seeking to call attention to himself by his crimes.call someone's bluffsee bluff1 .call collect make a telephone call reversing the charges.call something into (or in) question cast doubt on something: these findings call into question the legitimacy of the proceedings.call it a daysee day.call someone namessee name.call of naturesee nature.call the shots take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.call a spade a spadesee spade1 .call someone to accountsee account.call someone/something to mind cause one to think of someone or something, esp. through similarity. ∎  remember someone or something: I cannot call to mind where I have seen you.on call1. (of a person) able to be contacted in order to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty.2. (of money lent) repayable on demand.to call one's own used to describe something that one can genuinely feel belongs to one: I had not an item to call my own.PHRASAL VERBS: call for make necessary: desperate times call for desperate measures. ∎  draw attention to the need for: the report calls for an audit of endangered species.call someone in enlist someone's aid or services.call something in require payment of a loan or promise of money.call something off cancel an event or agreement.call on1. pay a visit to (someone): he's planning to call on Katherine today.2. (also call upon) have recourse to: we are able to call on academic staff with a wide variety of expertise. ∎  demand that (someone) do something: he called on the government to hold a plebiscite.call someone up1. inf. telephone someone.2. summon someone to serve in the army. ∎  select someone to play in a team: he was called up from Columbus to finish the season with the Yankees.call something up summon for use something that is stored or kept available: icons that allow you to call up a graphic. ∎ fig. evoke something.

Call

views updated Jun 08 2018

CALL

To convoke or summon by public announcement; to request the appearance and participation of several people—such as a call of a jury to serve, a roll call, a call of public election, or a call of names of the members of a legislative body.

In contract law, the demand for the payment of money according to the contract terms, usually by formal notice.

As applied to corporation law, the demand of the board of directors that subscribers pay an installment or portion of the amount that is still owed on shares that they have agreed to buy. A call price is the price paid by a corporation for the redemption of its ownsecurities.

In securities, a contract that gives a person the right to demand payment of a certain specified number of shares of stock at a stated price or upon a fixed date.

call

views updated May 18 2018

call To transfer control to a subroutine or procedure, with provision for return to the instruction following the call at the end of execution of the subroutine/procedure.

call

views updated May 23 2018

call cry out OE.; summon with a shout, name XIII. Late OE. ceallian (once) — (or perh. only reinforced by) ON. kalla cry, summon loudly, name, claim = MLG., (M)Du. kallen, OHG. challōn talk, chatter :- Gmc. *kallōjan, f. *kal- :- IE. *gol-, repr. also by W. galw call, OSl. glasū voice, glagolū word.