CALLS | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

late Old English ceallian, from Old Norse kalla ‘summon loudly’

give (a baby or animal) a specified name

give a name

• they called their daughter Hannah

cry out (a word or words)

cry out

• he heard an insistent voice calling his name
• Meredith was already calling out a greeting

contact or attempt to contact (a person or number) by phone

contact by phone

• could I call you back?
• he called her on Monday but her phone was switched off
• the driver called 999

order or request the attendance of

order or request attendance of

• representatives of all three teams have been called to appear before the Monaco stewards
• I got a letter calling me for an interview

announce or decide that (an event, especially a meeting, election, or strike) is to happen

announce or decide that meeting, election, etc. is to happen

• there appeared to be no alternative but to call a general election
• he called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter with councillors and residents
• the Allied forces called a ceasefire

(of a person) pay a brief visit

visit

• I've got to call at the bank to get some cash
• he had promised Celia he would call in at the clinic
• do call round if you're ever in the area

(of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, etc.) to be the thing specified

pronounce

• the linesman called the ball wide

cause (a subroutine) to be executed

cause subroutine to be executed

• one subroutine may call another subroutine (or itself)

a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention

cry

• a nearby fisherman heard their calls for help
• in response to the call, a figure appeared

the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal

animal cry

• it is best distinguished by its call, a loud ‘pwit’

an instance of speaking to someone on the phone or attempting to contact someone by phone

instance of speaking to someone by phone

• I'll give you a call at around five
• he stopped returning her calls
• a ten-minute call to the emergency services

a brief visit, especially one made for social reasons

visit

• we paid a call on Ben and his family

an appeal or demand for something to happen or be done

appeal or demand for something

• the call for action was welcomed
• a call to all sides to remain calm and refrain from violence
• there are more and more calls on his time

an order or request for someone to be present

summons

• he was delighted that so many former players had heeded the call to attend the conference

(in sport) a decision or ruling made by an umpire or other official, traditionally conveyed by a shout, that the ball has gone out of play or that a rule has been breached

shout in sport

• he was visibly irritated with the umpire's calls

a command to execute a subroutine

command to execute subroutine

• parameter values may be changed by calls to a special purpose input specification subroutine

a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital.

demand for payment

(in a bar, club, etc.) denoting or made with relatively expensive brands of alcohol which customers request by name.

denoting or made with relatively expensive brands of alcohol

• try wines by the glass for $5, beer for $3, and call drinks for $8