a face of a clock or watch that is marked to show units of time 钟面,钟盘;表面,表盘 ■a similar face or flat plate with a scale and pointer for showing measurements of weight, volume, or pressure (显示重量、容量或压力的)刻度盘,标度盘 ■a disc with numbered holes on a telephone, enabling someone to make a call by inserting a finger in each of the holes corresponding to the number to be called and turning the disc (电话机的)转动拨号盘 ■a plate or disc on a radio, cooker, washing machine, or other piece of equipment that is turned to select a wavelength or setting (收音机)的调台器;(炊具、洗衣机或其他设备的)调节控制器 ■(Brit. informal)a person's face (英,非正式)(人的)脸 he must be one of the new batch—I haven't seen his dial before. 他肯定是新来的,我以前没见过这张脸。
(dialled, dialling; 美 dialed, dialing)
[with obj.]call (a telephone number) by turning a disc with numbered holes or pressing a set of buttons 拨(电话号码) she dialled 999. 她拨了999。 [no obj.]company employees dial out from their office. 公司员工从办公室向外打电话。 ■(dial something up)gain access to a service using a telephone line 通过电话线获取(某种服务) plans to enable customers to dial up videos from their living room. 使客户能在起居室里通过电话线看录像的计划。 ■indicate or regulate by means of a dial (使用调节器来)指示(或调节) you're expected to dial in volume and tone settings. 你应该用调节器来控制音量和音调。
语源
Middle English (denoting a mariner's compass): from medieval Latin diale 'clock dial', based on Latin dies 'day'