telegraph
noun
tele·graph
| \ ˈte-lə-ˌgraf
\
\
Definition of telegraph
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
: an apparatus for communication at a distance by coded signals
especially
: an apparatus, system, or process for communication at a distance by electric transmission over wire
2
: telegram
telegraph
verb
telegraphed;
telegraphing;
telegraphs
Definition of telegraph (Entry 2 of 2)
1a
: to send or communicate by or as if by telegraph
b
: to send a telegram to
c
: to send by means of a telegraphic order
2
: to make known by signs especially unknowingly and in advance
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Other Words from telegraph
Verb
telegrapher
\ tə-ˈle-grə-fər
\
noun
\
noun
telegraphist
\ tə-ˈle-grə-fist
\
noun
\
noun
Examples of telegraph in a Sentence
Noun
I sent the message by telegraph.Verb
He telegraphed a message to her. Please telegraph when you get there. Please telegraph me when you get there. The look on her face telegraphed bad news. He lost the boxing match because he was telegraphing his punches.
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
In 1866, Cyrus W. Field finished laying out the first successful underwater telegraph cable between North America and Europe (a previous cable in 1858 burned out after only a few weeks’ use). — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 27 July 2019 Although earlier communications technologies and broadcasting mediums, from the telegraph to cinema, were already chipping away at childhood, the arrival of television in the mid-20th century marked the beginning of the end. — Kate Eichhorn, WIRED, "Social Media Could Make It Impossible to Grow Up," 8 July 2019 From the post office to the telegraph to cable TV, American government has required non-discrimination policies to protect the free press and democracy. — Sally Hubbard For Cnn Business Perspectives, CNN, "Facebook needs more than a $5 billion fine. It needs a new business model," 25 July 2019 Some used teletype machines— the mechanical descendants of telegraph operators—as a way to transmit or print out information. — Gretchen Mcculloch, WIRED, "The Meaning of All Caps—in Texting and in Life," 23 July 2019 One of the strongest largest geomagnetic storms on record, the 1859 Carrington Event, disrupted telegraph systems, and its operators got electric shocks. — National Geographic, "Solar storms can be even worse if you live near certain rocks," 18 Mar. 2019 By 1848, more than two thousand miles of telegraph lines had been laid across the United States. — Hannah Fry, The New Yorker, "Why Weather Forecasting Keeps Getting Better," 24 June 2019 Her crimes also included cutting a telegraph wire and smuggling. — Kelly Scott Franklin, WSJ, "‘Women’s War’ Review: The Battle Seen From Both Sides," 12 Apr. 2019 Every morning, telegraph operators checked with their colleagues in the surrounding cities to see what the weather was like. — Hannah Fry, The New Yorker, "Why Weather Forecasting Keeps Getting Better," 24 June 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
His motivations to stick around with her remain rather opaque but Kent telegraphs that they're meant to bond through their collective trauma. — Garrett Mitchell, azcentral, "'The Nightingale' is a disturbingly brutal meditation on revenge from 'Babadook' filmmaker," 21 Aug. 2019 The second showdown of the evening wasn’t as telegraphed as the first. — Brendan Bures, chicagotribune.com, "What we learned about marijuana reform from the presidential debates," 5 Aug. 2019 The news, which was telegraphed by a judge’s opinion on Thursday, was made final on Friday, after both sides argued their case. — John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, "Racing! Big win for Jerry Hollendorfer and CTT," 27 July 2019 The ads are also intended to telegraph a warning to illicit shops and underground growers: Get licensed to operate in the legal market, or shut down. — Washington Post, "California launches ad campaign against illegal pot shops," 21 June 2019 The ads are also intended to telegraph a warning to illicit shops and underground growers: Get licensed to operate in the legal market, or shut down. — Michael R. Blood, BostonGlobe.com, "California launches anti-illegal pot campaign," 21 June 2019 All of the most skin-crawling moments in Midsommar are telegraphed to viewers ahead of time; some of them are even depicted in vibrant detail as murals that decorate the walls of Harga. — David Sims, The Atlantic, "Ari Aster’s Midsommar Is a Sun-Drenched Horror Triumph," 2 July 2019 The plot is predictable and on the thin side, and the final twist is telegraphed far too early on. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Review: Men in Black: International is a solid addition to the popular franchise," 14 June 2019 Hannah definitely telegraphed some...feelings about the situation. — Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, "Hannah Brown and Her 'Bachelorette' Winner Have Reportedly Broken Up," 2 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'telegraph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for telegraph
telegraph
noun
English Language Learners Definition of telegraph
(Entry 1 of 2)
: an old-fashioned system of sending messages over long distances by using wires and electrical signals
: a device used for sending or receiving messages by telegraph
telegraph
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of telegraph (Entry 2 of 2)
: to send (a message) by telegraph
: to send a telegram to (someone)
: to make (something that you are about to do or say) obvious or apparent by the way you move, look, etc.
See the full definition for telegraph in the English Language Learners Dictionary
telegraph
noun
tele·graph
| \ ˈte-lə-ˌgraf
\
\
Kids Definition of telegraph
(Entry 1 of 2)
: an electric device or system for sending messages by a code over connecting wires
telegraph
verb
telegraphed;
telegraphing
Kids Definition of telegraph (Entry 2 of 2)
1
: to send by code over connecting wires
2
: to send a telegram to