Definition

1. Noun:
   • A tall wooden or concrete pole used to support telephone wires and other cables above the ground. It is a utility pole specifically associated with telecommunications infrastructure.

Usage

• The term "telephone pole" is a compound noun. It refers to the physical structure itself. It is typically used in everyday, informal contexts.
• Important Note: This is a fixed compound. When explaining the word "telephone pole," we refer to the entire object. The individual words "telephone" and "pole" have their own separate meanings.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The workers replaced the old telephone pole on our street.
  • Birds often perch on the telephone pole outside my window.
  • After the storm, a telephone pole was lying across the road.

Advanced Usage

• While "telephone pole" is a common term, in modern utility contexts, it is often called a utility pole or power pole, as it may also carry electrical lines and cable television cables.
• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe something very tall and thin.
  • He was as skinny as a telephone pole.

Variants and Related Words

• Utility pole (n): A more general term for a pole carrying public utility cables and wires.
• Power pole (n): A pole specifically for supporting electrical power lines.
• Telegraph pole (n): A historical term for a pole supporting telegraph wires; largely synonymous.

Synonyms

• Utility pole
• Power pole (when context includes electricity)
• Telegraph pole (historical)

Related Phrases

• Climb a telephone pole: To ascend a telephone pole, often done by utility workers.
  • It takes special training to safely climb a telephone pole.
• Hit a telephone pole: To collide with a telephone pole with a vehicle.
  • The car skidded on the ice and hit a telephone pole.

Notes

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically for the compound term "telephone pole." Idiomatic use is rare and typically metaphorical, as shown in the advanced usage section.

Noun

1. tall pole supporting telephone wires