collect call — A telephone call paid for by the person receiving it rather than the person making it
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A telephone call paid for by the person receiving it rather than the person making it
Pronunciation (IPA): /kəˈlekt kɔːl/
Example Sentences
- My teenage son tried to make a collect call from summer camp, but I pretended not to hear the operator.
- In the era before cell phones, collect calls were common for emergency situations.
- She made a collect call to her ex-boyfriend to tell him she was getting married - talk about adding insult to injury!
collect call
NOUN[/kəˈlekt kɔːl/]
A telephone call paid for by the person receiving it rather than the person making it
Stranded at a payphone, he made a collect call so his dad could pay for it.
Skip the collect call, make a direct call for the correct call!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term 'collect' derives from Latin 'colligere' (to gather, bring together), originally meaning to assemble or accumulate. In telecommunications, it evolved to denote a call where charges are gathered and paid by the recipient rather than the caller, reflecting the concept of 'collecting' payment from the called party.
Breakdown
collect (from Latin colligere: to gather, assemble) + call (telephone connection) = a telephone call where the recipient collects or accumulates the charges by agreeing to pay for the connection.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My teenage son tried to make a collect call from summer camp, but I pretended not to hear the operator.”
“In the era before cell phones, collect calls were common for emergency situations.”
“She made a collect call to her ex-boyfriend to tell him she was getting married - talk about adding insult to injury!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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