dial

A graduated, circular scale over which a needle moves to show a measurement (such as speed).

“The dial on the dashboard showed the car was nearly out of gas.”

A clock face.

A sundial.

A panel on a radio etc showing wavelengths or channels; a knob that is turned to change the wavelength etc.

“Turn the dial to Radio 4: my favourite show is on!”

A disk with finger holes on a telephone; used to select the number to be called.

“His hands were too fat to operate the dial on the telephone.”

UKauslangA person's face.

A miner's compass.

The face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours

The control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning

The circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments

A disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called

To control or select something with a dial, or (figuratively) as if with a dial.

“The president has recently dialled down the rhetoric.”

To select a number, or to call someone, on a telephone.

“In an emergency dial 999.”

To use a dial or a telephone.

“Please be careful when dialling.”

Choose by means of a dial

“dial a telephone number”