call / kôl/ • v. 1. [tr.] cry out to (someone) in order to summon them or attract their attention: she heard Terry calling her | [intr.] I distinctly heard you call. ∎  cry out (a word or words): he heard an insistent voice calling his name Meredith was already calling out a greeting. ∎  shout out or chant (the steps and figures) to people performing a square dance or country dance. ∎  [intr.] (of an animal, esp. a bird) make its characteristic cry. ∎  telephone (a person or telephone number): could I call you back? ∎  summon (something, esp. an emergency service or a taxicab) by telephone: call the police. ∎  bring (a witness) into court to give evidence. ∎  [tr.] archaic inspire or urge (someone) to do something. ∎  fix a date or time for (a meeting, strike, or election). ∎  [intr.] guess the outcome of tossing a coin: “You call,” he said. “Heads or tails?” ∎  predict the result of (a future event, esp. an election or a vote): in the Northeast, the race remains too close to call. ∎  Comput. cause the execution of (a subroutine).2. [intr.] (of a person) pay a brief visit. ∎  (call for) stop to pick up (someone) at the place where they are living or working.3. [tr.] give (an infant or animal) a specified name: they called their daughter Hannah. ∎  address or refer to (someone) by a specified name, title, endearment, or term of abuse: please call me Lucy. ∎  refer to, consider, or describe (someone or something) as being: he's the only person I would call a friend. ∎  (of an umpire or other official in a game) pronounce (a ball, stroke, or other action) to be the thing specified: the linesman called the ball wide.• n. 1. a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention: in response to the call, a figure appeared. ∎  the characteristic cry of a bird or other animal. ∎  a series of notes sounded on a brass instrument as a signal to do something: a bugle call to rise at 5:30. ∎  a telephone communication or conversation: I'll give you a call at around five. ∎  (a call for) an appeal or demand for: the call for action was welcomed. ∎  a summons: his call to the throne. ∎  [in sing.] a vocation: his call to be a disciple. ∎  [in sing.] a powerful force of attraction: hikers can't resist the call of the Sierras. ∎  (a call for) a demand or need for (goods or services): there was little call for Turkish food in Milltown. ∎  Comput. a command to execute a subroutine. ∎  a shout by an official in a game indicating whether the ball has gone out of play, if a rule has been breached, etc.; the decision or ruling so made: the umpire made a bad call. ∎  Bridge a bid, response, or double. ∎  a direction in a square dance given by the caller. ∎  a demand for payment of lent or unpaid capital. ∎  Stock Market short for call option. ∎  a player's right or turn to make a bid in a card game.2. a brief visit: we paid a call on Howard. ∎  a visit or journey made in response to an emergency appeal for help: the doctor was out on a call.PHRASES: call attention to cause people to notice: he is seeking to call attention to himself by his crimes.call someone's bluffsee bluff¹ .call collect make a telephone call reversing the charges.call something into (or in) question cast doubt on something: these findings call into question the legitimacy of the proceedings.call it a daysee day.call someone namessee name.call of naturesee nature.call the shots take the initiative in deciding how something should be done.call a spade a spadesee spade¹ .call someone to accountsee account.call someone/something to mind cause one to think of someone or something, esp. through similarity. ∎  remember someone or something: I cannot call to mind where I have seen you.on call1. (of a person) able to be contacted in order to provide a professional service if necessary, but not formally on duty.2. (of money lent) repayable on demand.to call one's own used to describe something that one can genuinely feel belongs to one: I had not an item to call my own.PHRASAL VERBS: call for make necessary: desperate times call for desperate measures. ∎  draw attention to the need for: the report calls for an audit of endangered species.call someone in enlist someone's aid or services.call something in require payment of a loan or promise of money.call something off cancel an event or agreement.call on1. pay a visit to (someone): he's planning to call on Katherine today.2. (also call upon) have recourse to: we are able to call on academic staff with a wide variety of expertise. ∎  demand that (someone) do something: he called on the government to hold a plebiscite.call someone up1. inf. telephone someone.2. summon someone to serve in the army. ∎  select someone to play in a team: he was called up from Columbus to finish the season with the Yankees.call something up summon for use something that is stored or kept available: icons that allow you to call up a graphic. ∎ fig. evoke something.