Call

Call is a word with multiple related meanings. As a verb it commonly refers to uttering a sound, word, or phrase to attract attention or convey information. As a noun it can denote the act of calling, a request or summons, an occasion for gathering, or the utterance itself.

In telecommunications, a call is a voice connection between two or more parties established over a telephone network or an internet-based service. A call is initiated by dialing, rings on the recipient’s device, and ends when one party terminates or the connection drops. Features may include call forwarding, conferencing, voicemail, and caller identification.

In social and organizational contexts, to call someone is to address them by name or to request their presence or participation, as in calling a meeting or calling for volunteers. A call may also refer to a formal summons, such as a call to testify in court.

In computing, a call denotes the invocation of a subroutine or function. A program calls a routine, passes arguments, and control returns after execution. System calls interface with the operating system. Concepts such as call stacks and calling conventions govern how calls are made and returned.

In biology and animal behavior, a call is a vocalization produced by an animal to communicate. Bird calls, alarm calls, mating calls, and other vocal signals are documented in ethology.

In finance, a call option gives the holder the right to buy an asset at a specified price within a set period. In law, to call a witness is to compel their appearance, and to call a roll is to read aloud a list for attendance.

Etymologically, call derives from old Germanic roots meaning to shout or cry out, a base idea that spans many of its senses.