dial tone

Frequency: 5.03.1 per million words

The sound you hear when you pick up a landline telephone, indicating it's ready to make a call.

toneADJECTIVE + tone

Categories:

dial

Examples (10)

  • I picked up the receiver, but there was no dial tone.
  • She waited for the dial tone before entering the number.
  • Do you still hear a dial tone on modern phones?
  • The faint dial tone indicated the line was active.
  • After a brief pause, the crisp dial tone came through.
  • He mistakenly thought the busy signal was a dial tone.
  • In the old days, you always had to listen for the dial tone.
  • A continuous dial tone means the phone is working properly.
  • If you don't get a dial tone, check your phone line connection.
  • The sudden absence of the dial tone made her realize the phone was dead.