trunk-call
Definition
Noun: - A trunk-call is a long-distance telephone call, especially one made through a trunk line connecting different telephone exchanges or regions.
Usage Examples
- (A long-distance telephone call.)
- (Long-distance calls charged to the employer.)
- (Historical context of telephone pricing.)
Advanced Usage
"to place a trunk-call": to initiate a long-distance telephone call.
- He placed a trunk-call to the main office to report the emergency. (He made a long-distance call to communicate urgent information.)
"trunk-call operator": a telephone operator who handles long-distance connections.
- The trunk-call operator connected the call to the rural exchange. (The operator facilitated the long-distance connection.)
Variants and Related Words
Trunk line (n): a main telephone line connecting exchanges for long-distance communication.
- The trunk line was busy, so the call was delayed. (The main line for long-distance calls was occupied.)
Trunk call (n): a variant spelling of "trunk-call" (often written without a hyphen).
- He received a trunk call from his brother abroad. (A long-distance call.)
Synonyms
- Long-distance call: a telephone call to a distant location.
- Intercity call: a call between different cities.
- Toll call: a call that incurs additional charges beyond local rates.
Related Idioms
- "to call long-distance": to make a trunk-call.
- I need to call long-distance to speak to my aunt in Canada. (I need to make a trunk-call.)
Notes on Usage
- The term "trunk-call" is somewhat dated and was more common in the era of manual telephone exchanges. In modern usage, it is often replaced by "long-distance call" or simply "international call" for overseas connections.