call box
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A public telephone booth: A small, enclosed structure containing a payphone for public use. 2. A roadside emergency telephone: A telephone, often in a distinctive housing (like a box or tall post), placed along highways or in remote areas for summoning emergency assistance.
Usage
- The primary meaning refers to a physical structure housing a telephone for public or emergency use.
- It is a compound noun; the two words together create a specific meaning distinct from the individual words "call" and "box."
Examples
- Public telephone booth:
- Before mobile phones, if you needed to make a call away from home, you would find a call box on the street.
- The old red call box is now a iconic symbol of Britain.
- Roadside emergency telephone:
- If your car breaks down on the motorway, you should use the nearest emergency call box to contact the authorities.
- The hiker used the mountain rescue call box to alert rangers of his location.
Advanced Usage
- The term is becoming less common in everyday speech due to the prevalence of mobile phones, but it remains in official use for emergency systems and historical contexts.
- In British English, the iconic red public telephone booth is often simply called a "phone box."
Variants and Related Words
- Phone booth (n): A more common modern synonym for a public telephone enclosure.
- Telephone box (n): Another term for a public call box, especially in British English.
- Emergency telephone (n): A more descriptive term for a roadside call box used for emergencies.
Synonyms
- Public telephone
- Payphone booth
- Emergency telephone
Antonyms
- Private phone
- Mobile phone
- Personal line
Related Phrases / Idioms
- (To be) on the call box: An informal phrase (now dated) meaning to be using a public telephone.
- I'll be on the call box for a few minutes, wait for me here.
Noun
- a numbered compartment in a post office where mail is put to be called for
- booth for using a telephone