Function and Call

noun

• Mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function. ()
  • synonyms: mathematical function, single-valued function, map, mapping
• What something is used for.
  • usage: "the function of an auger is to bore holes"; "ballet is beautiful but what use is it"
  • synonyms: purpose, role, use
• The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group.
  • usage: "the function of a teacher"; "the government must do its part"; "play its role"
  • synonyms: office, part, role
• A relation such that one thing is dependent on another.
  • usage: "height is a function of age"; "price is a function of supply and demand"
• A formal or official social gathering or ceremony.
  • usage: "it was a black-tie function"
• A vaguely specified social event.
  • usage: "the party was quite an affair"; "an occasion arranged to honor the president"; "a seemingly endless round of social functions"
  • synonyms: affair, occasion, social occasion, social function
• A set sequence of steps, part of larger computer program.
  • synonyms: routine, subroutine, subprogram, procedure

verb

• Perform as expected when applied.
  • usage: "The washing machine won't go unless it's plugged in"; "Does this old car still run well"; "This old radio doesn't work anymore"
  • synonyms: work, operate, go, run
• Serve a purpose, role, or function.
  • usage: "The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
  • synonyms: serve
• Perform duties attached to a particular office or place or function.
  • usage: "His wife officiated as his private secretary"
  • synonyms: officiate

• (v.i.) Alternative of Functionate.
• (n.) The course of action which peculiarly pertains to any public officer in church or state; the activity appropriate to any business or profession.
• (n.) A quantity so connected with another quantity, that if any alteration be made in the latter there will be a consequent alteration in the former. Each quantity is said to be a function of the other. Thus, the circumference of a circle is a function of the diameter. If x be a symbol to which different numerical values can be assigned, such expressions as x2, 3x, Log. x, and Sin. x, are all functions of x.
• (n.) The act of executing or performing any duty, office or calling; per formance.
• (n.) The appropriate action of any special organ or part of an animal or vegetable organism; as, the function of the heart or the limbs; the function of leaves, sap, roots, etc.; life is the sum of the functions of the various organs and parts of the body.
• (n.) The natural or assigned action of any power or faculty, as of the soul or of the intellect; the exertion of an energy of some determinate kind.
• (n.) A public or social ceremony or gathering; a festivity or entertainment, especially one somewhat formal.
• (n.) A religious ceremony, especially one particularly impressive and elaborate.

noun

• A telephone connection.
  • usage: "she reported several anonymous calls"; "he placed a phone call to London"; "he heard the phone ringing but didn't want to take the call"
  • synonyms: phone call, telephone call
• A special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course.
  • usage: "he was disappointed that he had not heard the Call"
• A loud utterance; often in protest or opposition.
  • usage: "the speaker was interrupted by loud cries from the rear of the audience"
  • synonyms: cry, outcry, yell, shout, vociferation
• (n.) ()
  • synonyms: claim
• The characteristic sound produced by a bird.
  • usage: "a bird will not learn its song unless it hears it at an early age"
  • synonyms: birdcall, birdsong, song
• A brief social visit.
  • usage: "senior professors' wives no longer make afternoon calls on newcomers"; "the characters in Henry James' novels are forever paying calls on each other, usually in the parlor of some residence"
• A demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring his margin up to the minimum requirement.
  • synonyms: margin call
• A demand for a show of hands in a card game.
  • usage: "after two raises there was a call"
• A request.
  • usage: "many calls for Christmas stories"; "not many calls for buggywhips"
• An instruction that interrupts the program being executed.
  • usage: "Pascal performs calls by simply giving the name of the routine to be executed"
• A visit in an official or professional capacity.
  • usage: "the pastor's calls on his parishioners"; "the salesman's call on a customer"
• Sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee. (
  • usage: "he was ejected for protesting the call"
• The option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date.
  • synonyms: call option

verb

• Assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to.
  • usage: "They named their son David"; "The new school was named after the famous Civil Rights leader"
  • synonyms: name
• Ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality.
  • usage: "He called me a bastard"; "She called her children lazy and ungrateful"
• Get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone.
  • usage: "I tried to call you all night"; "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning"
  • synonyms: telephone, call up, phone, ring
• Utter a sudden loud cry.
  • usage: "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me"
  • synonyms: shout, shout out, cry, yell, scream, holler, hollo, squall
• Order, request, or command to come.
  • usage: "She was called into the director's office"; "Call the police"
  • synonyms: send for
• Pay a brief visit.
  • usage: "The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens"
  • synonyms: visit, call in
• Call a meeting; invite or command to meet.
  • usage: "The Wannsee Conference was called to discuss the `Final Solution'"; "The new dean calls meetings every week"
• Read aloud to check for omissions or absentees.
  • usage: "Call roll"
• Send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message.
  • usage: "Hawaii is calling"; "A transmitter in Samoa was heard calling"
• Utter a characteristic note or cry.
  • usage: "bluejays called to one another"
• Stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather.
  • usage: "call a football game"
• Greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name.
  • usage: "He always addresses me with `Sir'"; "Call me Mister"; "She calls him by first name"
  • synonyms: address
• Make a stop in a harbour.
  • usage: "The ship will call in Honolulu tomorrow"
• Demand payment of (a loan. )
  • usage: "Call a loan"
  • synonyms: call in
• Make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands.
  • usage: "He called his trump"
  • synonyms: bid
• Give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance.
  • synonyms: call off
• Indicate a decision in regard to.
  • usage: "call balls and strikes behind the plate"
• Make a prediction about; tell in advance.
  • usage: "Call the outcome of an election"
  • synonyms: predict, foretell, prognosticate, forebode, anticipate, promise
• Require the presentation of for redemption before maturation.
  • usage: "Call a bond"
• Challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense.
  • usage: "He deserves to be called on that"
• Declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee.
  • usage: "call a runner out"
• Lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal.
  • usage: "Call ducks"
• Order or request or give a command for.
  • usage: "The unions called a general strike for Sunday"
• Order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role.
  • usage: "He was already called 4 times for jury duty"; "They called him to active military duty"
• Utter in a loud voice or announce.
  • usage: "He called my name"; "The auctioneer called the bids"
• Challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of.
  • usage: "call the speaker on a question of fact"
• Consider or regard as being.
  • usage: "I would not call her beautiful"
• Rouse somebody from sleep with a call.
  • usage: "I was called at 5 A. M. This morning"

• (n.) A short visit; as, to make a call on a neighbor; also, the daily coming of a tradesman to solicit orders.
• (v.t.) To invoke; to appeal to.
• (v.t.) To rouse from sleep; to awaken.
• (v.t.) To show or disclose the class, character or nationality of.
• (n.) A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to summon the sailors to duty.
• (n.) The act of calling; -- usually with the voice, but often otherwise, as by signs, the sound of some instrument or by writing; a summons; an entreaty; an invitation; as, a call for help; the bugle's call.
• (n.) An invitation to take charge of or serve a church as its pastor.
• (n.) Vocation; employment.
• (v.i.) To make a brief visit; also, to stop at some place designated, as for orders.
• (v.t.) To utter in a loud or distinct voice; -- often with off; as, to call or call off, the items of an account; to call the roll of a military company.
• (n.) A reference to or statement of, an object, course, distance or other matter of description in a survey or grant requiring or calling for a corresponding object, etc., on the land.
• (v.t.) To give name to; to name; to address or speak of, by a specifed name.
• (v.t.) To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for an office or employment, especially of a religious character; -- often used of a divine summons; as, to be called to the ministry; sometimes, to invite; as, to call a minister to be the pastor of a church.
• (v.t.) To regard or characterize as of a certain kind; to denominate; to designate.
• (n.) A divine vocation or summons.
• (n.) The cry of a bird; also a noise or cry in imitation of a bird; or a pipe to call birds by imitating their note or cry.
• (n.) A note blown on the horn to encourage the hounds.
• (n.) A requirement or appeal arising from the circumstances of the case; a moral requirement or appeal.
• (v.t.) To invite or command to meet; to convoke; -- often with together; as, the President called Congress together; to appoint and summon; as, to call a meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
• (v.t.) To state or estimate, approximately or loosely; to characterize without strict regard to fact; as, they call the distance ten miles; he called it a full day's work.
• (n.) See Assessment, 4.
• (n.) The privilege to demand the delivery of stock, grain or any commodity, at a fixed, price, at or within a certain time agreed on.
• (v.i.) To speak in loud voice; to cry out; to address by name; -- sometimes with to.
• (v.t.) To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to call a servant.
• (v.i.) To make a demand, requirement or request.
• (n.) A signal, as on a drum, bugle, trumpet or pipe, to summon soldiers or sailors to duty.

In the bond markets, a' Call' is an issuer's right to redeem bonds it has sold before the date they mature. In a related use of the term, when a bank makes a secured loan, it reserves the right to demand full repayment of the loan referred to as calling the loan should the borrower default on interest payments. However, when the term is used in connection with options, a call is the right to buy the underlying investment at a specific price by a specific date.