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telephone (n.)

1835, "system for conveying words over distance by musical notes" (devised in 1828 by French composer Jean-François Sudré (1787-1862); each tone played over several octaves represented a letter of the alphabet), from French téléphone (c. 1830), from télé- "far" (see tele-) + phōnē "sound, voice," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say." Sudré's system never proved practical. Also used of other apparatus early 19c., including "instrument similar to a foghorn for signaling from ship to ship" (1844). The electrical communication tool was first described in modern form by Philip Reis (1861); developed by Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) and so called by him from 1876.

telephone (v.)

1878, from telephone (n.). Related: Telephoned; telephoning.

Entries related to telephone

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Definitions of telephone from WordNet
1
telephone (n.)
transmitting speech at a distance;
Synonyms: telephony
telephone (n.)
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds;
I talked to him on the telephone
Synonyms: phone / telephone set
2
telephone (v.)
get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone;
Synonyms: call / call up / phone / ring
From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near telephone

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