tell
tell /ˈtɛl/
verb
-
(
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![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
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)
Express in words
(
state
, tell
, say
)
express in words
He said that he wanted to marry her
He said that he wanted to marry her
Tell me what is bothering you
tell me what is bothering you
State your opinion
state your opinion
State your name
state your name
-
(
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
)
Let something be known
(
tell
)
let something be known
Tell them that you will be late
Tell them that you will be late
-
(
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
)
Narrate or give a detailed account of
(
narrate
, recite
, recount
, tell
)
narrate or give a detailed account of
Tell what happened
Tell what happened
The father told a story to his child
The father told a story to his child
-
(
![](/Content/images/star-small.png)
)
Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
(
enjoin
, say
, order
, tell
)
give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
I said to him to go home
I said to him to go home
She ordered him to do the shopping
She ordered him to do the shopping
The mother told the child to get dressed
The mother told the child to get dressed
-
(
)
Discern or comprehend
(
tell
)
discern or comprehend
He could tell that she was unhappy
He could tell that she was unhappy
-
(
)
Inform positively and with certainty and confidence
(
tell
, assure
)
inform positively and with certainty and confidence
I tell you that man is a crook!
I tell you that man is a crook!
-
(
)
Give evidence
(
evidence
, tell
)
give evidence
He was telling on all his former colleague
he was telling on all his former colleague
-
(
)
Mark as different
(
secern
, secernate
, severalise
[British] , severalize
, differentiate
, distinguish
, separate
, tell
, tell apart
)
mark as different
We distinguish several kinds of maple
We distinguish several kinds of maple
noun
-
A Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)
(
Tell
, William Tell
)
a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)