Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun dial

4 senses of dial

Sense 1
dial -- (the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours)
       => face -- (the side upon which the use of a thing depends (usually the most prominent surface of an object); "he dealt the cards face down")

Sense 2
dial -- (the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning)
       => control, controller -- (a mechanism that controls the operation of a machine; "the speed controller on his turntable was not working properly"; "I turned the controls over to her")

Sense 3
dial -- (the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments)
       => indicator -- (a device for showing the operating condition of some system)

Sense 4
dial, telephone dial -- (a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called)
       => selector, selector switch -- (a switch that is used to select among alternatives)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb dial

2 senses of dial

Sense 1
dial -- (operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receiver off the hook before you dial")
       => operate, control -- (handle and cause to function; "do not operate machinery after imbibing alcohol"; "control the lever")

Sense 2
dial -- (choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number")
       => choose, take, select, pick out -- (pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives; "Take any one of these cards"; "Choose a good husband for your daughter"; "She selected a pair of shoes from among the dozen the salesgirl had shown her")