wrong number — A telephone number that is dialed incorrectly or that does not belong to the person you intended to call
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: A telephone number that is dialed incorrectly or that does not belong to the person you intended to call
Pronunciation (IPA): /rɔːŋ ˈnʌmbər/
Example Sentences
- I've been getting wrong number calls all day - apparently my number is one digit away from a pizza place!
- When he said 'Is this the White House?', I knew it was a wrong number.
- Please check the number carefully to avoid calling a wrong number.
wrong number
NOUN[/rɔːŋ ˈnʌmbər/]
A telephone number that is dialed incorrectly or that does not belong to the person you intended to call
He dialed a wrong number and reached a grumpy stranger instead of his friend.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Wrong derives from Old Norse 'rangr' (twisted, crooked), which evolved to mean incorrect or improper. Number comes from Latin 'numerus' (a count or sum). The compound phrase 'wrong number' emerged as a modern expression with the development of telephone systems, referring to an incorrectly dialed telephone number.
Breakdown
wrong (Old Norse 'rangr': twisted, incorrect) + number (Latin 'numerus': a count or numerical value). The phrase combines an adjective of error with a noun denoting a sequence of digits.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I've been getting wrong number calls all day - apparently my number is one digit away from a pizza place!”
“When he said 'Is this the White House?', I knew it was a wrong number.”
“Please check the number carefully to avoid calling a wrong number.”
“The old lady kept calling our house by mistake - it was the same wrong number every night at 9 PM.”
📚Related Words
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