to telephone someone
I'll call you tomorrow morning to discuss the project.
She couldn't call him because her phone battery was dead.
✦ Derived from Old Norse “kalla” meaning “cry loudly, summon”.
to shout or speak loudly to attract someone's attention
The coach called to the players to hurry up.
I called across the street, but she didn't hear me.
✦ Same Germanic root as Old Norse “kalla,” originally meaning “cry out.”
to give someone or something a particular name
Everyone calls her "Sunny" because of her cheerful personality.
They called the puppy Max on the first day they adopted him.
✦ Old English “ceallian” evolved to mean ‘give a name’ by the 14th century.
to request the presence or help of someone or something, especially a service
We should call an ambulance immediately.
If the heater breaks again, I'll call a technician.
✦ Extended sense of “summon” dating from Middle English era.
to decide or announce officially
The referee called a foul.
Let's call it a day and finish tomorrow.
✦ Sense of “decide” arose from the idea of announcing aloud a judgment.
to remember something that happened in the past
I suddenly recall the smell of my grandmother’s pies cooling on the windowsill.
Can you recall where you left the car keys?
✦ From Latin recallō ‘call back’ (re- ‘back’ + callō ‘call’).
to officially order someone to return, especially from a job, post, or place
The government decided to recall its ambassador after the diplomatic dispute.
All soldiers on leave were recalled to base when the emergency was declared.
to ask customers to return a defective or unsafe product so it can be repaired or replaced
The carmaker had to recall thousands of vehicles because of faulty brakes.
The toy company quickly recalled the dolls after reports of loose parts.
used before a noun when you think the name or description is wrong, exaggerated, or you do not approve of it
The so-called experts totally misread the weather forecast and caused chaos at the outdoor event.
Many people bought the so-called miracle diet pills, but they made no difference at all.
✦ Formed from the intensifier "so" + past participle "called"; recorded in English since the 17th century as a way to question the accuracy of a name.
used before a noun simply to show that this is the name people usually give to something
The tarsier is a tiny primate from Southeast Asia, often called a so-called "ghost animal" because of its big eyes.
Scientists study the so-called ‘dark matter’ that makes up most of the universe.
