Tell n William, German name Wilhelm Tell. a legendary Swiss patriot, who, traditionally, lived in the early 14th century and was compelled by an Austrian governor to shoot an apple from his son's head with one shot of his crossbow. He did so without mishap
kiss-and-tell
modifier denoting the practice of publicizing one's former sexual relationship with a celebrity, esp. in the tabloid press
a kiss-and-tell interview
tell [1]
vb , tells, telling, told
1 when tr, may take a clause as object to let know or notify
he told me that he would go
2 tr to order or instruct (someone to do something)
I told her to send the letter airmail
3 when intr, usually foll by: of to give an account or narration (of something)
she told me her troubles
4 tr to communicate by words; utter
to tell the truth
5 tr to make known; disclose
to tell fortunes
6 intr; often foll by: of to serve as an indication
her blush told of her embarrassment
7 tr; used with: can, etc.; may take a clause as object to comprehend, discover, or discern
I can tell what is wrong
8 tr; used with: can, etc. to distinguish or discriminate
he couldn't tell chalk from cheese
9 intr to have or produce an impact, effect, or strain
every step told on his bruised feet
10 intr; sometimes foll by: on
Informal to reveal secrets or gossip (about)
don't tell!, she told on him
11 tr to assure
I tell you, I've had enough!
13 intr
Dialect to talk or chatter
14 Informal (chiefly U.S.) to tell the truth no matter how unpleasant it is
15 ♦
tell the time to read the time from a clock
16 ♦
you're telling me
Slang I know that very well, (See also)
→
tell apart →
tell off
(Old English tellan; related to Old Saxon tellian, Old High German zellen to tell, count, Old Norse telja)
♦
tellable adj
tell [2]
n a large mound resulting from the accumulation of rubbish on a long-settled site, esp. one with mudbrick buildings, particularly in the Middle East
(C19: from Arabic tall)
tell apart
vb tr, adv to distinguish between; discern
can you tell the twins apart?
Tell el Amarna
n a group of ruins and rock tombs in Upper Egypt, on the Nile below Asyut: site of the capital of Amenhotep IV, built about 1375 b.c.; excavated from 1891 onwards
tell off
vb tr, adv
1 Informal to reprimand; scold
they told me off for stealing apples
2 to count and dismiss
he told off four more soldiers
♦
telling off, telling-off n