Dialing

/ˈdaɪəlɪŋ/ verb

Definition

Entering a phone number by turning a dial or pressing buttons on a phone; or adjusting something to a different setting.

Etymology

From 'dial' (a device marked with numbers or settings), possibly from Latin 'diales' (daily) or from the circular face resembling a sundial. The word shifted from the physical dial to the action of using it.

Kelly Says

Dialing rotary phones was actually slower than texting on modern phones, but your grandparents could still dial faster than you'd think—physical muscle memory is incredibly powerful, which is why old skills stick around even when replaced by better technology.

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