Meaning of tell in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  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 »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. let something be known

    Examples

    • « Tell them that you will be late »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. narrate or give a detailed account of

    Examples

    • « Tell what happened »
    • « The father told a story to his child »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  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 »

    Derived terms

  8. 8. mark as different

    Examples

    • « We distinguish several kinds of maple »

    Derived terms

  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) »

Famous quotes

  • « I always tell people that our sports aren't that dangerous. »
    Shaun White
  • « One tell-tale sign of a Wingnut: they always confuse partisanship with patriotism. »
    John Avlon
  • « Our government shouldn't tell us where to travel and where not to travel. »
    Jeff Flake
  • « I can tell you for sure: people who are at their peak right now will not sustain that. You can't. It's against the law of nature. »
    Bryan Cranston
  • « Tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time. »
    Gerald R. Ford

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