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1. 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";
   - phone, telephone set
    
2. Transmitting speech at a distance
   - telephony
    
3. [US] A game in which a group of people whisper a phrase to each person's neighbour in turn, the phrase often being slightly misheard several times and having the sense altered by the time it reaches the last person
   - Chinese wispers [Brit]

1. Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
   "I tried to telephone you all night";
   - call, call up, phone, ring

Derived forms: telephoning, telephones, telephoned

Type of: electronic equipment, telecom, telecommunicate, telecommunication

Part of: phone system, telephone system

Encyclopedia: Telephone, Texas