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Meaning of tell in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /tɛl/

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  1. Verb

    tell

    Etymology

    Old English tellan ‘relate, count, estimate’, of Germanic origin; related to German zählen‘reckon, count’, erzählen‘recount, relate’, also to tale

    Definitions

    1. express in words

    Examples

    • « He said that he wanted to marry her »
    • « tell me what is bothering you »
    • « state your opinion »
    • « state your name »
  2. 2. let something be known

    Examples

    • « Tell them that you will be late »
  3. 3. narrate or give a detailed account of

    Examples

    • « Tell what happened »
    • « The father told a story to his child »
  4. 4. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority

    Examples

    • « I said to him to go home »
    • « She ordered him to do the shopping »
    • « The mother told the child to get dressed »
  5. 5. discern or comprehend

    Examples

    • « He could tell that she was unhappy »
  6. 6. inform positively and with certainty and confidence

    Examples

    • « I tell you that man is a crook! »
  7. 7. give evidence

    Examples

    • « he was telling on all his former colleague »
  8. 8. mark as different

    Examples

    • « We distinguish several kinds of maple »
  9. Noun

    Tell

    Etymology

    mid 19th century: from Arabic tall‘hillock’

    Definitions

    1. a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

    Examples

    • « according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap) »

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