phonephonephones1 (alsotelephone) nounan instrument that you use for talking to somebody who is in another place: The phone's ringing – can you answer it?be on the phoneto be using the phone: Anna was on the phone for an hour.phonephonephonesphonedphoning2verb (phones, phoning, phoned) (British alsophone up)to speak to somebody by phonesame meaningcall: I phoned Di last night. I was just phoning up for a chat. Could you phone back later?