tell

tell · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    To communicate information to someone in spoken or written words.

  2. 2.

    To order or instruct someone to do something.

  3. 3.

    To discern or recognize.

  4. 4.

    To have a noticeable effect.

  5. 5.

    (noun) An unconscious action that reveals information about someone.

Related words

Antonyms: conceal, hide
See also: inform, say, told
Synonyms: inform, narrate, relate, say

Etymology

From Old English "tellan" meaning "to count, calculate, reckon, recount, narrate." Related to German "zahlen" (to count, pay) and "erzahlen" (to narrate). The original sense was to count or enumerate, which evolved into the sense of relating or narrating.