different between telephone vs ringtone

English

Etymology

First used by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 to refer to the modern instrument, but previous devices had been given this name, which was borrowed from French téléphone. Ultimately from Ancient Greek ???? (têle, “afar”) + ???? (ph?n?, “voice, sound”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /? t?l.??f??n/, /? t?l.??f??n/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /? t?l.??fo?n/
• Hyphenation: tel?e?phone

Noun

telephone (countable and uncountable, plural telephones)

1. A telecommunication device (originally mechanical, and now electronic) used for two-way talking with another person (now often shortened to phone).
2. (Canada, US, uncountable) The game of Chinese whispers.

Synonyms

• blower, phone, farspeaker, Ameche (slang), dog and bone (slang), horn (informal)
• See also Thesaurus:phone

Hyponyms

• cellphone

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

telephone (third-person singular simple present telephones, present participle telephoning, simple past and past participle telephoned)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To (attempt to) contact someone using the telephone.
2. (transitive) To convey (a message) by telephoning.
   • 2012, Robert Byron, ?Jan Morris, Europe in the Looking-Glass

     David telephoned his apologies to his mother.

Synonyms

• call, drop a line, phone, ring
• See also Thesaurus:telephone

Translations

Anagrams

• phenetole

English

Alternative forms

• ring tone, ring-tone

Etymology

ring +? tone

Noun

ringtone (plural ringtones)

1. The sound made by a telephone when ringing.
2. A customizable tone used to indicate an incoming call on a telephone, especially a mobile phone.

Derived terms

• ringtone rap
• ringtone oscillator

Translations

Verb

ringtone (third-person singular simple present ringtones, present participle ringtoning, simple past and past participle ringtoned)

1. (transitive, intransitive) Of a telephone: to play a ringtone.
   • 2015, Herb Borkland, DOG$ (page 15)

     My handheld ringtoned “Happy Days are Here Again.” I withdrew into a quieter corner of Mahogany Bar and stuck a finger in my other ear.

   • 2019, Arthur Slade, Amber Fang (Books 1-3): Boxed Set

     The cell reception is less than zero here, but my phone was ringtoning away. I did not like the sound of that.

Anagrams

• integron, nitrogen, retoning

Dutch

Alternative forms

• ringtoon (unofficial)

Etymology

Borrowed from English ringtone.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?r??.to?n/
• Hyphenation: ring?tone

Noun

ringtone m (plural ringtones)

1. ringtone (sound made by a ringing telephone)

   Synonym: beltoon

Portuguese

Etymology

From English ringtone.

Noun

ringtone m (plural ringtones)

1. ringtone (sound made by a telephone when ringing)

   Synonym: toque

Spanish

Etymology

From English ringtone.

Noun

ringtone m (plural ringtones)

1. ringtone