Definition of telephone call

The term "telephone call" originated in the late 19th century when Alexander Graham Bell invented the first practical telephone. The word "telephone" itself is a combination of two Greek roots - "tele" meaning far, and "phone" meaning voice. Initially, people used the phrase "by telephone" to describe sending a message over a telegraph wire, as both technologies shared the same infrastructure. However, as the telephone evolved and became more widely used for verbal communication, the term "telephone call" became more commonly used to describe a conversation conducted over the telephone line. The term "call" in the phrase "telephone call" derives from the fact that making a phone call involved physically lifting the handset, which was originally known as a receiver or speaking tube, and speaking into it. This action of calling or initiative was taken by the person making the connection, as opposed to being a passive receiver of a telegraph message. In summary, the term "telephone call" refers to a conversation transmitted via a telephone line, and originated during the time when Alexander Graham Bell's invention revolutionized the way people communicated over long distances.