Background for tell

tell

/tɛl/

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noun

Examples :

"The suspect's nervous fidgeting was a clear tell; he was trying to hide something about the missing money. "

mind action communication police character game tendency sign essential

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noun

That which is told; a tale or account.

Examples :

"The teacher's tell about the history of the Roman Empire was very interesting. "

story literature communication essential

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noun

A private message to an individual in a chat room; a whisper.

Examples :

"In the online chat room, the teacher's tell about the upcoming test was a whisper, meant only for Sarah. "

communication internet computing technology essential

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verb

(archaic outside of idioms) To count, reckon, or enumerate.

Examples :

"All told, there were over a dozen. Can you tell time on a clock? He had untold wealth."

number math language essential

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verb

Examples :

"I want to tell a story; I want to tell you a story."

communication language literature essential

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verb

To convey by speech; to say.

Examples :

"Finally, someone told him the truth. He seems to like to tell lies."

communication language word essential

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verb

To instruct or inform.

Examples :

"Please tell me how to do it."

communication language word info essential

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verb

To order; to direct, to say to someone.

Examples :

"Tell him to go away."

communication language action essential

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verb

To discern, notice, identify or distinguish.

Examples :

"The detective could tell the suspect was lying by the way his eyes darted around. "

mind action ability communication language sensation essential

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verb

Examples :

"Time will tell what became of him."

communication language essential

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verb

To be revealed.

Examples :

"The truth about the missing homework was finally told. "

communication language essential

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verb

To have an effect, especially a noticeable one; to be apparent, to be demonstrated.

Examples :

"Sir Gerald was moving slower; his wounds were beginning to tell."

outcome appearance sign condition essential

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verb

To use (beads or similar objects) as an aid to prayer.

Examples :

"My grandmother tells her prayers using a string of colorful beads. "

religion ritual essential

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verb

To inform someone in authority about a wrongdoing.

Examples :

"The student had to tell the teacher about the classmate who cheated on the test. "

communication police law essential

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verb

(authorship) To reveal information in prose through outright expository statement -- contrasted with show

Examples :

"The teacher told the class that the project was due next Friday. "

literature writing language style essential

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noun

A hill or mound, originally and especially in the Middle East, over or consisting of the ruins of ancient settlements.

Examples :

"The archaeologists carefully studied the tell, hoping to learn more about the ancient city buried beneath it. "

archaeology history geography essential