Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of phone
"I forgot to bring my phones, so I can't listen to music on the train today."
headphones
In plain English: Phones are small handheld devices that let you make calls and send messages.
"She checked her phones to see if any messages had come in while she was at the store."
Usage: When used as a plural noun in casual conversation, "phones" refers to telephones or mobile devices, not headsets. Use this term when discussing calling someone or texting, whereas "headphones" should be specified if you mean audio equipment worn on the ears.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of phone
"She phones her mother every Sunday evening to catch up on how everyone is doing."
In plain English: To phone someone means to call them on the telephone to talk.
"I will phone my mother to let her know I have arrived safely."
Usage: Use "phones" to describe when a third person calls someone on the telephone in the present tense, such as saying "She phones her mother every Sunday." Do not use this form for first or second person subjects like "I phone" or "you phone," which require different conjugations.
Derived from the Greek phōnē meaning "sound" or "voice," this term originally referred to any device used to transmit sound but is now commonly associated with telecommunication equipment. It entered English in the late 19th century alongside related terms like telephone and phonograph.