tell: Meaning and Definition of

tell

Pronunciation: (tel), [key]
— v., told, tell•ing.
—v.t.
  1. to give an account or narrative of; narrate; relate (a story, tale, etc.): to tell the story of Lincoln's childhood.
  2. to make known by speech or writing (a fact, news, information, etc.); communicate.
  3. to announce or proclaim.
  4. to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.).
  5. to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.).
  6. to reveal or divulge (something secret or private).
  7. to say plainly or positively: I cannot tell just what was done.
  8. to discern or recognize (a distant person or thing) so as to be able to identify or describe: Can you tell who that is over there?
  9. to distinguish; discriminate; ascertain: You could hardly tell the difference between them.
  10. to inform (a person) of something: He told me his name.
  11. to assure emphatically: I won't, I tell you!
  12. to bid, order, or command: Tell him to stop.
  13. to mention one after another, as in enumerating; count or set one by one or in exact amount: to tell the cattle in a herd; All told there were 17 if we are correct.
—v.i.
  1. to give an account or report: Tell me about your trip.
  2. to give evidence or be an indication: The ruined temples told of an ancient culture, long since passed from existence.
  3. to disclose something secret or private; inform; tattle: She knows who did it, but she won't tell.
  4. to say positively; determine; predict: Who can tell?
  5. to have force or effect; operate effectively: a contest in which every stroke tells.
  6. to produce a marked or severe effect: The strain was telling on his health.
  7. to talk or chat.
  8. to tell the complete, unadulterated truth; be forthright: He may be crude but he tells it like it is.
  9. It was about time that someone told him off.
    1. to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.
    2. Informal.to rebuke severely; scold:It was about time that someone told him off.
  10. to tattle on (someone).

tell

Pronunciation: (tel), [key]
— n.
  1. an artificial mound consisting of the accumulated remains of one or more ancient settlements (often used in Egypt and the Middle East as part of a place name).

Tell

Pronunciation: (tel), [key]
  1. See
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: