dial1/ˋdaIəl; ˈdaIəl/n [C] 1 the round part of a clock, watch, or machine that has numbers that show you the time or a measurement〔仪表等的〕针盘﹐钟[表]面2 the part of a radio, THERMOSTAT etc that you turn to change something, such as the radio station or temperature〔收音机或恒温器等的〕调节盘﹐控制盘3 part of an older telephone that you turn to dial a number〔旧式电话机上的〕拨号盘
dial2v [I,T] dialled , dialling BrE 【英】dialed , dialing AmE 【美】to press the buttons or turn the dial on a telephone 拨(电话号码): I must have dialled the wrong number. 我一定是拨错号码了。see box at见 TELEPHONE1 方框