tell·ing
(tĕĺĭng)
adjective
- Having force and producing a striking effect.
- Revealing previously unknown information.
derivatives
- telĺing·ly
- adverb
tell
1 (tĕl)
[Middle English tellen, from Old English tellan.]
verb: told (tōld), tell·ing, tells.
transitive verb
- To give a detailed account of; narrate: tell what happened; told us a story.
- To communicate by speech or writing; express with words: tell the truth; tell one's love.
- To make known; reveal: tell a secret; tell fortunes.
- To notify; inform.
- To inform positively; assure: I tell you, the plan will work.
- To give instructions to; direct: told the customers to wait in line.
- To discover by observation; discern: could tell that he was upset.
- To name or number one by one; count: telling one's blessings; 16 windows, all told.
intransitive verb
- To give an account or revelation: is prepared to break silence and tell.
- To give evidence; inform: promised not to tell on her friend.
- To have an effect or impact: In this game every move tells.
phrasal verbs
- tell off
- To rebuke severely; reprimand.
derivatives
- telĺa·ble
- adjective
