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'telephone box also call box, phone box BrE || phone booth, 'telephone ,booth especially AmE — n a small hut or enclosure containing a telephone for use by the public
'telephone call also phone call, call n a call made on a telephone: a threatening telephone call | My answering machine showed that I'd had three phone calls while I was out.
'telephone di,rectory n fml for PHONE BOOK
'telephone ex,change n a central place, usually a building, where telephone connections are made ➔ compare SWITCHBOARD
'telephone ,number n 1 [C] the number you have to DIAL in order to be connected to a particular telephone number: *What's your telephone number?* 2 telephone numbers infml a very large amount of money: *I don't know how much he earns, but we're certainly talking telephone numbers.*
te-leph-o-nist /tə'lefənɪst/ n BrE a person who makes telephone connections at a telephone exchange or SWITCHBOARD
te-le-pho-to lens /,telɪfəʊtəʊ 'lenz/ n a special camera LENS that makes it possible to take pictures of distant things as if they were close
tel-e-print-er /'teliˌprɪntə/ also tel-e-type-writ-er /ˌteli'taɪpraɪtə/ especially AmE — n a machine with a KEY-BOARD for typing TELEX messages and a printer for printing messages received
Tel-e-prompt-er /'teliˌprɒmptə || -ˌprɑːmp-/ trademark a type of machine used by people on television so that they can read out a speech or message and look as if they are speaking naturally. The machine shows slowly-moving lines of large writing, and the speaker can read from it without looking away from the camera. There is a similar machine called an AUTOCUE.
tel-e-sales /'teliˌseɪlz/ also teleselling n [U] the practice of telephoning people in order to sell them things: *I think she works in telesales.* ➔ compare TELEMARKETING
tel-e-scope¹ /'telɪskəp/ n a tubelike scientific instrument that makes distant objects look nearer and larger ➔ see also RADIO TELESCOPE; compare BINOCULARS, MICROSCOPE
telescope² v 1 [I;T] to (cause to) become shorter in length or time: *The two buses telescoped together in the collision.* | *For the purposes of the film, three months' action is telescoped into two hours.* 2 [I] to become shorter by one part sliding over another: *This instrument will telescope small enough to fit into this box.*
tel-e-scop-ic /ˌtelɪ'skpɪk || -'skɑː-/ adj 1 made of parts that slide one over another so that the whole can be made shorter: *The tripod has telescopic legs.* 2 of or like a telescope: *a telescopic lens* 3 seen or obtained by means of a telescope: *a telescopic picture of the moon*
tel-e-sell-ing /'teliˌselɪŋ/ n [U] TELESALES
Tel-e-tex /'telɪteks/ trademark a newer type of TELEX (=a system for sending written messages all over the world), or a message sent or received using this system
tel-e-text /'telɪtekst/ n [U] (sometimes cap.) a system of broadcasting written information (e.g. news) on television ➔ see also CEEFAX, ORACLE
tel-e-thon /'telɪθɒn||-θɑːn/ n a special television programme that continues for several hours and is intended to persuade people to give money to a CHARITY
Tel-e-tub-bies /'teliˌtʌbiz/ trademark a British television programme for young children. The Teletubbies, whose names are Dipsy, Laa Laa, Tinky Winky, and Po, are strange imaginary creatures who have television screens on their stomachs and AERIALS on the tops of their heads. They do not speak properly, but just make noises. Many teachers and other adults feel that the programme should be more educational, but it is very popular with children.
Tel-e-type /'telɪtaɪp/ trademark a TELEPRINTER
tel-e-van-ge-lis-m /ˌtelɪ'vændʒəlɪzəm/ n [U] the use of television programmes to persuade people to become Christians
**CULTURAL NOTE** In some parts of the US, televangelism is very popular. Televangelists typically use a lot of emotion when they talk about their religion so that they can make people interested. Most televangelists ask their supporters to send money. Some people think that televangelists are not sincere and they are just trying to get money from people who are too willing to trust them. In the 1980s, there was a series of SCANDALS involving famous televangelists such as Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart. After September 11, 2001, televangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson made many people angry by saying that the terrorist attacks on the US were God's punishment for the country's immoral sexual behaviour.
tel-e-van-ge-list /ˌtelɪ'vændʒəlɪst/ also tv evangelist, ,television e'vangelist n someone, usually a Protestant Christian, who talks about religion on television in an EVANGELICAL way. Common in the US, some have raised very large amounts of money for their churches in this way, though not all ask for money.
tel-e-vise /'telɪvaɪz/ v [T] to broadcast by television: *The President's news conference was televised.*
tel-e-vi-sion /'telɪvɪʒən, ˌtelɪ'vɪʒən/ also TV, telly BrE — infml n 1 [C] also tele'vision ,set fml — a boxlike apparatus with a SCREEN that receives broadcast signals and turns them into pictures and sound: *a colour/black-and-white television* 2 [U] (the watching of) the shows received by a television: *The children watch far too much television.* | *the television news* 3 [U] a) the method of broadcasting pictures and sound by means of electrical waves: *Who invented television?* b) the business of making and broadcasting shows on a television: *Jean works in television as a reporter.* | *a television producer* 4 on (the) television broadcast or broadcasting by television: *What's on television tonight?* | *The President spoke to the nation on television.*
tele'vision ,licence n (in Britain) an official paper from the government giving permission to use a television in one's home
**CULTURAL NOTE** In the UK, it is a crime to own a television if you do not have a television licence. You have to buy a licence every year unless you are over 75 years old. DETECTOR VANS go around the streets and use special equipment to find out if anybody is using a television without a licence. The BBC does not receive any money from advertisements. Instead, the money collected from the television licence is used to pay for all of its programmes. Television companies which compete with the BBC think that this is unfair and would like the television licence to be ABOLISHED (=officially ended).
tel-e-vi-sual /ˌtelɪ'vɪʒʊəl/ adj [A] BrE relating to television: *a major televisual event like the Olympics*
tel-ex¹ /'teleks/ n 1 [U] a system for sending written messages all over the world along telephone lines or by SATELLITE using a special machine called a TELEPRINTER. This system has been replaced by EMAIL and FAX machines in many countries. 2 [C] a message sent this way: *We just received a telex from our office in Uganda.*
telex² v [I;T (to)] to send (a message, information, news etc) to (a person, place, company etc) by telex: [+obj+that] *Telex Australia that prices are to be increased by 10%*. | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *Telex them the news urgently.*
Tel·ford, Thomas /'telfəd||-fɔːrd/ (1757–1834) a Scottish ARCHITECT and engineer, known for building bridges, roads, and CANALS. Some of his bridges are still used today, including the road bridge across the MENAI STRAITS in North Wales. A new town called Telford, named after him, was built in central England in the 1960s.
tell /tel/ v told /təʊld/ 1 [T/about, of, to)] to make (something) known in words to (someone); express in words: *If you knew you were going to be late, why didn't you tell me?* | *He's good at telling jokes.* | *Do you always tell the truth?* | *Tell me all about your new job.* | *The boss will have to be told about this.* | *He told us of his wonderful adventures in foreign lands.* | [+obj(i)+obj(d)] *I always tell the children a story/tell a story to the children before they go to bed.* | [+obj+(that)] *John told us he'd seen you in town.* | [+obj+wh-] *Could you tell me when it will be ready/how much it will cost?* | *I can't tell you how pleased I am* (=I'm very pleased) *to hear your good news.* | *Don't tell me you've forgotten your keys again!* (=I am disappointed or annoyed that you have done this) | *I'm right, I tell you!* (=you can be certain that I am right) | (infml) *I'll tell you what* (=here is a suggestion) – *let's go out for a drink.* ➔ see also