dial
    n 1: the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
    2: the control on a radio or television set that is used for
       tuning
    3: the circular graduated indicator on various measuring
       instruments
    4: a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for
       each number called [syn: dial, telephone dial]
    v 1: operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take
         the receiver off the hook before you dial"
    2: choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"

Dial \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See
   Deity.]
   1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of
      day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated
      arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and
      astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to
      the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either
      horizontal or vertical.
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   2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of
      day is shown by pointers or hands.
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   3. A miner's compass.
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   Dial bird (Zool.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius),
      allied to the European robin. The name is also given to
      other related species.

   Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having
      numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be
      adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can
      be operated.

   Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on
      which lines and figures for indicating the time are
      placed.
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Dial \Di"al\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialedor Dialled; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.]
   1. To measure with a dial.
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            Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven.
                                                  --Talfourd.
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   2. (Mining) To survey with a dial. --Raymond.
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Dial
   for the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible,
   erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8). The Hebrew word
   (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex. 20:26, 1 Kings 10:19, and
   "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9, 10, 11. The _ma'aloth_ was probably
   stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the
   top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of
   steps, according as the sun was low or high.
   
     Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at
   Babylon (Dan. 3:6) is the first to make mention of the "hour."