tell

I

[[t]tɛl[/t]]

v. told, tell•ing

1) to narrate or relate (a story, tale, etc.)

2) to make known (a fact, news, information, etc.); communicate

3) to announce or proclaim

4) to utter (the truth, a lie, etc.); speak

5) to express in words (thoughts, feelings, etc.)

6) to reveal or divulge (something secret or private)

7) to say positively:

I can't tell just when I'll be done[/ex]

8) to discern or recognize; identify:

to tell twins apart[/ex]

9) to inform (a person) of something:

He told me his name[/ex]

10) to order or command:

Tell her to stop[/ex]

11) to enumerate; count

12) to give an account or report

13) to give evidence; be an indication

14) to disclose something secret or private:

Will you hate me if I tell?[/ex]

15) to say positively; determine or predict:

It may be the same shade, but I can't tell[/ex]

16) to produce a marked effect

17) phv tell off

inf to rebuke severely; scold

18) phv tell on, to tattle on

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- tell it like it is

Etymology: bef. 900; ME tellen, OE tellan to relate, count, c. OFristalia, tella, OS tellian, OHG zellen, ON telja; akin to tale II

tell

[[t]tɛl[/t]] n.

ara an artificial mound consisting of the accumulated remains of one or more ancient settlements (often used in Egypt and the Middle East as part of a place name)

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Etymology: 1860–65; < Ar tall hillock