1878, from telephone (n.). Related: Telephoned; telephoning.
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-) + phone "sound, voice," from PIE root *bha- (2) "to speak, tell, say" (see fame (n.)). 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.
双语例句
1. He will have been heartened by the telephone opinion poll published yesterday.
他会为昨天公布的电话民意调查结果感到鼓舞。
来自柯林斯例句
2. "I think I hear the telephone ringing."—"Okay, I can take a hint."
“我想我听到电话铃在响。”——“好的，我明白你的意思了。”
来自柯林斯例句
3. The Chief Constable's clipped tones crackled over the telephone line.
电话线那头噼里啪啦地传来警察局长短促的声音。
来自柯林斯例句
4. I ripped out the telephone wire that ran through to his office.
我把通到他办公室的电话线拔掉了。
来自柯林斯例句
5. He edged closer to the telephone, ready to grab it.