Tell (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

Admin
verb (used with object), told, tell·ing.
  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.
verb (used without object), told, tell·ing.
  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.
Verb Phrases
  1. tell off,
    • to separate from the whole and assign to a particular duty.
    • to rebuke severely; scold: It was about time that someone told him off.
  2. to tattle on (someone).
Idioms
  1. to tell the complete, unadulterated truth; be forthright: He may be crude but he tells it like it is.
noun
  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 placename).
noun
  1. William Tell.
verb tells, telling or told
  1. to let know or notify
  2. to order or instruct (someone to do something)
  3. to give an account or narration (of something)
  4. to communicate by words; utter
  5. to make known; disclose
  6. to serve as an indication
  7. to comprehend, discover, or discern
  8. to distinguish or discriminate
  9. to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain
  10. to reveal secrets or gossip (about)
  11. to assure
  12. to count (votes)
  13. to talk or chatter
  14. to tell the truth no matter how unpleasant it is
  15. to read the time from a clock
  16. I know that very well
noun
  1. a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East
noun
  1. William, German name Wilhelm Tell. a legendary Swiss patriot, who, traditionally, lived in the early 14th century and was compelled by an Austrian governor to shoot an apple from his son's head with one shot of his crossbow. He did so without mishap
Tell (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

More Definitions