telephone
This term carries a formal and slightly dated weight compared to the modern word phone. It evokes the image of a physical apparatus with a receiver and a cord, rather than the seamless, integrated nature of a smartphone. In contemporary speech, using the full word often signals a professional or official context.
When used as a verb, it suggests a deliberate act of reaching out. While people now say they are calling or texting, telephoning implies a specific mode of voice communication that is more structured than a casual chat but less formal than a written letter.
Countable when referring to the physical device on a desk. Uncountable when referring to the general technology of telecommunication.
Meanings
Examples
Phrasal Verbs
telephone in
to call a radio or television station to provide information or enter a contest
Thousands of listeners telephoned in to share their opinions on the new law.