HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

To look up an entry in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, use the search window above. For best results, after typing in the word, click on the “Search” button instead of using the “enter” key.

Some compound words (like bus rapid transit, dog whistle, or identity theft) don’t appear on the drop-down list when you type them in the search bar. For best results with compound words, place a quotation mark before the compound word in the search window.

guide to the dictionary

tell¹

(tĕl)

v. told(tōld), tell·ing, tells

v. tr.

a. To communicate by speech or writing; express with words: She told him that the store was closed. Tell me the truth.

b. To give a detailed account of; narrate: told what happened; told us a story.

c. To notify (someone) of something; inform: He told us of his dream to sail around the world.

d. To make known; disclose or reveal: tell a secret; tell fortunes.

e. To inform (someone) positively; assure: I tell you, the plan will work.

f. To give instructions to; direct: told the customers to wait in line.

2. To discover by observation; discern: We could tell that he was upset.

3. To name or number one by one; count: telling one's blessings; 16 windows, all told.

v. intr.

1. To relate a story or give an account of an event: The sailor told of having been adrift for days.

2. To reveal something that is not supposed to be revealed, especially something that someone has done wrong: She promised not to tell on her friend.

3. To have an effect or impact: In this game every move tells.

An unintentional or unconsciously exhibited behavior that reveals or betrays one's state of mind, as when playing poker.

Phrasal Verb:

tell off Informal

To rebuke severely; reprimand.

Idiom:

tell time

To determine the time of day indicated by the positions of the hands on a clock.

[Middle English tellen, from Old English tellan; see del-² in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

tella·ble adj.

tell²

(tĕl)

A mound, especially in the Middle East, made up of the remains of a succession of previous settlements.

[Arabic tall; see tll in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]

Tell

(tĕl), William fl. early 14th cent.?

Swiss patriot who, according to legend, sparked a rebellion against Habsburg rule after he was forced to shoot an apple off his son's head with a crossbow.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

American Heritage Dictionary Products

HOW TO USE THE DICTIONARY

THE USAGE PANEL

AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY APP

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE DICTIONARY BLOG

INTERESTED IN DICTIONARIES?

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

American Heritage Dictionary Products