Definition

Noun: A flexible insulated electrical cable that physically connects a telephone handset to the telephone base unit or wall jack, allowing for the transmission of voice signals and providing a limited range of movement for the user.

Usage

The term "telephone cord" specifically refers to the coiled or straight wire tether of a landline telephone. It is a physical component of traditional telephone hardware.

Examples

• The telephone cord was so tangled that I had to spend a few minutes untwisting it before I could move the handset.
• My old phone has a long, coiled telephone cord that stretches when I walk around the kitchen.
• If your phone isn't working, check if the telephone cord is firmly plugged into the wall socket.

Advanced Usage

• "To be tethered by a telephone cord": This phrase is sometimes used metaphorically to describe a limitation in mobility or freedom, reminiscent of the physical constraint of a corded phone.
  • Working from home with a landline made me feel tethered by a telephone cord to my desk.

Variants and Related Words

• Handset cord: A more precise term, specifying it is the cord attached to the handset.
• Line cord: Often refers to the cable that connects the telephone base to the wall jack, not the handset to the base.
• Coiled cord: Describes the specific spring-like shape of many traditional telephone cords.

Synonyms

• Phone wire
• Handset cable
• Telephone line (Note: This can be ambiguous, as it also refers to the broader connection to the telephone network.)

Related Phrases

• To stretch the cord: To physically pull the telephone handset away from its base, extending the coiled cord to its limit.
  • I had to stretch the cord all the way to see the notepad on the other side of the room.

Noun

1. the telephone wire that connects to the handset