pay-phone
Definition
Noun: A public telephone that requires payment to operate, typically by inserting coins, a credit card, or a prepaid card.
Usage
A "pay-phone" is a specific type of public telephone. The term directly indicates that payment is necessary to make a call. It is often found in locations like airports, train stations, or street corners.
Examples
- I needed to call a taxi, so I used the pay-phone on the corner.
- With the rise of mobile phones, it's becoming harder to find a working pay-phone.
- She inserted several coins into the pay-phone to make a long-distance call.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used metaphorically to describe something outdated or rarely used in the modern era.
- Example: "Writing a paper letter feels like using a pay-phone—it's a nostalgic but inefficient process now."
Variants and Related Words
- Payphone (noun): A common alternative spelling written as one word.
- Public telephone (noun): A more general term for any telephone available for public use, which may or may not require direct payment (e.g., an emergency phone).
- Coin-operated telephone (noun phrase): A more descriptive synonym that specifies the method of payment.
Synonyms
- Public telephone
- Coin-operated telephone
- Call box (British English)
Antonyms
- Private phone
- Mobile phone
- Personal telephone
Related Phrases
- To use/make a call from a pay-phone: The standard phrase for the action.
- Example: "He had to make a call from a pay-phone because his battery was dead."
Noun
-
a coin-operated telephone
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