Tell

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Tell, v. t. [AS. tellan, from talu tale, number, speech; akin to D. tellen to count, G. zählen, OHG. zellen to count, tell, say, Icel. telja, Dan. tale to speak, tælle to count. See Tale that which is told.].

•  To mention one by one, or piece by piece; to recount; to enumerate; to reckon; to number; to count; as, to tell money.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]

  "He telleth the number of the stars."  [1913 Webster]

  "Tell the joints of the body."  [1913 Webster]
•  To utter or recite in detail; to give an account of; to narrate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Of which I shall tell all the array."  [1913 Webster]

  "And not a man appears to tell their fate."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make known; to publish; to disclose; to divulge.  [1913 Webster]

  "Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To give instruction to; to make report to; to acquaint; to teach; to inform.  [1913 Webster]

  "A secret pilgrimage,
  That you to-day promised to tell me of?"  [1913 Webster]
•  To order; to request; to command.  [1913 Webster]

  "He told her not to be frightened."  [1913 Webster]
•  To discern so as to report; to ascertain by observing; to find out; to discover; as, I can not tell where one color ends and the other begins.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make account of; to regard; to reckon; to value; to estimate.  [1913 Webster]

  " Tell, though equivalent in some respect to speak and say, has not always the same application. We say, to tell truth or falsehood, to tell a number, to tell the reasons, to tell something or nothing; but we never say, to tell a speech, discourse, or oration, or to tell an argument or a lesson. It is much used in commands; as, tell me the whole story; tell me all you know."  [1913 Webster]

  "I ne told no dainity of her love."  [1913 Webster]

To tell off, to count; to divide. Sir W. Scott.

Syn. -- To communicate; impart; reveal; disclose; inform; acquaint; report; repeat; rehearse; recite.

Tell, v. i. 

•  To give an account; to make report.  [1913 Webster]

  "That I may publish with the voice of thankgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works."  [1913 Webster]
•  To take effect; to produce a marked effect; as, every shot tells; every expression tells.  [1913 Webster]

  "Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David."  [1913 Webster]

To tell of. (a) To speak of; to mention; to narrate or describe. (b) To inform against; to disclose some fault of. -- To tell on, to inform against. [Archaic & Colloq.]

Tell, n. 

 That which is told; tale; account.  [1913 Webster]
"I am at the end of my tell."  [1913 Webster]

Tell, n. [Ar.].

 A hill or mound.  W. M. Thomson.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Tell, v. (past and past part. told)
1 tr. relate or narrate in speech or writing; give an account of (tell me a story).
2 tr. make known; express in words; divulge (tell me your name; tell me what you want).
3 tr. reveal or signify to (a person) (your face tells me everything).
4 tr. a utter (don't tell lies). b warn (I told you so).
5 intr. a (often foll. by of, about) divulge information or a description; reveal a secret (I told of the plan; promise you won't tell). b (foll. by on) colloq. inform against (a person).
6 tr. (foll. by to + infin.) give (a person) a direction or order (tell them to wait; do as you are told).
7 tr. assure (it's true, I tell you).
8 tr. explain in writing; instruct (this book tells you how to cook).
9 tr. decide, determine, distinguish (cannot tell which button to press; how do you tell one from the other?).
10 intr. a (often foll. by on) produce a noticeable effect (every disappointment tells; the strain was beginning to tell on me). b reveal the truth (time will tell). c have an influence (the evidence tells against you).
11 tr. (often absol.) count (votes) at a meeting, election, etc.

Idiom

as far as one can tell judging from the available information. tell apart distinguish between (usu. with neg. or interrog.: could not tell them apart). tell me another colloq. an expression of incredulity. tell off 1 colloq. reprimand, scold.
2 count off or detach for duty. tell a tale (or its own tale) be significant or revealing. tell tales report a discreditable fact about another. tell that to the marines see MARINE. tell the time determine the time from the face of a clock or watch. there is no telling it is impossible to know (there's no telling what may happen). you're telling me colloq. I agree wholeheartedly.

Derivative

tellable adj.

Tell, n. Archaeol. an artificial mound in the Middle East etc. formed by the accumulated remains of ancient settlements.

Etymology

Arab. tall hillock

THESAURUS

Tell

acknowledge, acquaint, admit, advertise, advertise of, advise, affect, air, allegorize, amount to something, announce, apprise, approve, argue, articulate, ascertain, assert, asseverate, attest, aver, barrow, be effective, be featured, be influential, be persuasive, be prominent, be somebody, be something, berate, bespeak, betoken, betray, bid, blab, break, break it to, break the news, breathe, brief, bring out, bring to light, bring word, broadcast, call off, call over, call the roll, carry weight, castigate, censure, census, charge, chew out, chide, chime, chime in, chorus, clue, come home to, come out with, command, communicate, confess, confide, confide to, confirm, connote, convey, count, cut ice, cut some ice, declare, delineate, deliver, demonstrate, denote, depict, describe, determine, differentiate, direct, discern, disclose, discover, discriminate, display, disseminate, distinguish, divulgate, divulge, emit, enjoin, enlighten, enumerate, enunciate, evidence, evince, evulgate, exhibit, explain, express, fable, fabulize, familiarize, fictionalize, fill in, fling off, foliate, forecast, foresee, foretell, formulate, furnish evidence, get across, get over, get top billing, give, give a report, give away, give expression, give indication of, give notice, give out, give out with, give the facts, give tidings of, give tongue, give utterance, give vent to, give voice, give word, go to show, hand on, have, have an in, have full play, have influence, have personality, have pull, herald, hillock, hint at, hit, hit the mark, identify, illustrate, impart, imply, import, impress, impress forcibly, indicate, inform, instruct, intimate, involve, know, know again, leak, leave word, lecture, let get around, let in on, let know, let out, let slip, lip, make an impression, make known, make out, manifest, mark, matter, measure, mention, mention to, militate, mound, mouth, mythicize, mythify, mythologize, nail, narrate, notify, novelize, number, numerate, order, out with, outline, page, paginate, pass, pass along, pass on, peach, peg, perceive, phonate, phrase, place, point to, poll, portray, post, pour forth, predict, present, proclaim, pronounce, prophesy, publish, put, put forth, put in words, quantify, quantize, raise, rat, realize, rebuke, recall knowledge of, recite, recognize, recount, refer to, rehearse, reidentify, relate, release, render, report, reprimand, reproach, reprove, require, retell, reveal, rock, romance, rumor, run over, say, scold, send, send word, serve notice, set forth, share, share with, show, show signs of, signal, signalize, signify, sink in, smite, sound, speak, speak for itself, speak volumes, spill, spill the beans, spot, squeak, squeal, stand out, star, state, storify, strike, strike hard, strike home, suggest, swear, symptomatize, take to task, tale, talk, tally, tattle, tattle on, tell a story, tell off, tell on, tend to show, throw off, throw out, tick off, touch on, transfer, transmit, traumatize, trumpet, tumulus, understand, unfold a tale, utter, vent, ventilate, verbalize, verse, vocalize, voice, warn, weigh, whisper, word, write up

ROGET THESAURUS

Tell

Speech

VB speak of, say, utter, pronounce, deliver, give utterance to, utter forth, pour forth, breathe, let fall, come out with, rap out, blurt out have on one's lips, have at the end of one's tongue, have at the tip of one's tongue, break silence, open one's lips, open one's mouth, lift one's voice, raise one's voice, give the tongue, wag the tongue, talk, outspeak, put in a word or two, hold forth, make a speech, deliver a speech, speechify, harangue, declaim, stump, flourish, recite, lecture, sermonize, discourse, be on one's legs, have one's say, say one's say, spout, rant, rave, vent one's fury, vent one's rage, expatiate, speak one's mind, go on the stump, take the stump, soliloquize, tell, speak to, talk together, be eloquent, have a tongue in one's head, have the gift of the gab, pass one's lips, escape one's lips, fall from the lips, fall from the mouth.

Description

VB describe, set forth, draw a picture, picture, portray, characterize, particularize, narrate, relate, recite, recount, sum up, run over, recapitulate, rehearse, fight one's battles over again, unfold a tale, tell, give an account of, render an account of, report, make a report, draw up a statement, detail, enter into particulars, enter into details, descend to particulars, descend to details, itemize.

Numeration

VB number, count, tally, tell, call over, run over, take an account of, enumerate, muster, poll, recite, recapitulate, sum, sum up, cast up, tell off, score, cipher, compute, calculate, suppute, add, subtract, multiply, divide, extract roots, algebraize, check, prove, demonstrate, balance, audit, overhaul, take stock, affix numbers to, page, amount to, add up to, come to.

Success

VB succeed, be successful, gain one's end, gain one's ends, crown with success, gain a point, attain a point, carry a point, secure a point, win a point, win an object, get there, manage to, contrive to, accomplish, do wonders, work wonders, make a go of it, come off well, come off successful, come off with flying colors, make short work of, take by storm, carry by storm, bear away the bell, win one's wings, win one's spurs, win the battle, win the day, carry the day, gain the day, gain the prize, gain the palm, have the best of it, have it all one's own way, have the game in one's owns hands, have the ball at one's feet, have one on the hop, walk over the course, carry all before one, remain in possession of the field, score a success, speed, make progress, win one's way, make one's way, work one's way, find one's way, strive to some purpose, prosper, drive a roaring trade, make profit, reap the fruits, gather the fruits, reap the benefit of, reap the harvest, strike oil, gain a windfall, make one's fortune, get in the harvest, turn to good account, turn to account, triumph, be triumphant, gain a victory, obtain a victory, gain an advantage, chain victory to one's car, nail a coonskin to the wall, surmount a difficulty, overcome a difficulty, get over a difficulty, get over an obstacle, se tirer d'affaire, make head against, stem the torrent, stem the tide, stem the current, weather the storm, weather a point, turn a corner, keep one's head above water, tide over, master, get the better of, have the better of, gain the better of, gain the best of, gain the upper hand, gain the ascendancy, gain the whip hand, gain the start of, distance, surpass, defeat, conquer, vanquish, discomfit, euchre, overcome, overthrow, overpower, overmaster, overmatch, overset, override, overreach, outwit, outdo, outflank, outmaneuver, outgeneral, outvote, take the wind out of one's adversary's sails, beat, beat hollow, rout, lick, drub, floor, worst, put down, put to flight, put to the rout, put hors de combat, put out of court, silence, quell, nonsuit, checkmate, upset, confound, nonplus, stalemate, trump, baffle, circumvent, elude, trip up, trip up the heels of, drive into a corner, drive to the wall, run hard, put one's nose out of joint, settle, do for, break the neck of, break the back of, capsize, sink, shipwreck, drown, swamp, subdue, subjugate, reduce, make the enemy bite the dust, victimize, roll in the dust, trample under foot, put an extinguisher upon, answer, answer the purpose, avail, prevail, take effect, do, turn out well, work well, take, tell, bear fruit, hit it, hit the mark, hit the right nail on the head, nick it, turn up trumps, make a hit, find one's account in.

Influence

VB have influence, be influential, carry weight, weigh, tell, have a hold upon, magnetize, bear upon, gain a footing, work upon, take root, take hold, strike root in, run through, pervade, prevail, dominate, predominate, out weigh, over weigh, over-ride, over-bear, gain head, rage, be rife, spread like wildfire, have the upper hand, get the upper hand, gain the upper hand, have full play, get full play, gain full play, be recognized, be listened to, make one's voice heard, gain a hearing, play a part, play a leading part, play a leading part in, take the lead, pull the strings, turn the scale, throw one's weight into the scale, set the fashion, lead the dance.

Evidence

VB be evidence, evince, show, betoken, tell of, indicate, imply, involve, argue, bespeak, breathe, have weight, carry weight, tell, speak volumes, speak for itself, rest upon, depend upon, repose on, bear witness, give evidence, testify, depose, witness, vouch for, sign, seal, undersign, set one's hand and seal, sign and seal, deliver as one's act and deed, certify, attest, acknowledge, make absolute, confirm, prove (demonstrate), indorse, countersign, corroborate, support, ratify, bear out, uphold, warrant, adduce, attest, cite, quote, refer to, appeal to, call, call to witness, bring forward, bring into court, allege, plead, produce witnesses, confront witnesses, place into evidence, mark into evidence, collect evidence, bring together evidence, rake up evidence, experiment, have a case, make out a case, establish, authenticate, substantiate, verify, make good, quote chapter and verse, bring home to, bring to book.

Information

VB tell, inform, inform of, acquaint, acquaint with, impart, impart to, make acquaintance with, apprise, advise, enlighten, awaken, transmit, let fall, mention, express, intimate, represent, communicate, make known, publish, notify, signify, specify, convey the knowledge of, let one know, have one to know, give one to understand, give notice, set before, lay before, put before, point out, put into one's head, put one in possession of, instruct, direct the attention to, announce, annunciate, report, report progress, bringword, send word, leave word, write word, telegraph, telephone, wire, retail, render an account, give an account, state, let slip, blurt out, spill the beans, unburden oneself of, let off one's chest, disclose, show cause, explain, hint, given an inkling of, give a hint, drop a hint, throw out a hint, insinuate, allude to, make allusion to, glance at, tip the wink, suggest, prompt, give the cue, breathe, whisper, whisper in the ear, give a bit of one's mind, tell one plainly, tell once for all, speak volumes, undeceive, unbeguile, set right, correct, open the eyes of, disabuse, disillusion one of, be informed of, know, learn, get scent of, get wind of, gather from, awaken to, open one's eyes to, become alive, become awake to, hear, overhear, understand, come to one's ears, come to one's knowledge, reach one's ears.

Disclosure

VB disclose, discover, dismask, draw the veil, draw aside the veil, lift the veil, raise the veil, lift up the veil, remove the veil, tear aside the veil, tear the curtain, unmask, unveil, unfold, uncover, unseal, unkennel, take off the seal, break the seal, lay open, lay bare, expose, open, open up, bare, bring to light, divulge, reveal, break, squeal, tattle, sing, rat, snitch, let into the secret, reveal the secrets of the prison house, tell, breathe, utter, blab, peach, let out, let fall, let drop, let slip, spill the beans, let the cat out of the bag, betray, tell tales, come out of school, come out with, give vent, give utterance to, open the lips, blurt out, vent, whisper about, speak out, make public, unriddle, split, acknowledge, allow, concede, grant, admit, own, own up to, confess, avow, throw off all disguise, turn inside out, make a clean breast, show one's hand, show one's cards, unburden one's mind, disburden one's mind, disburden one's conscience, disburden one's heart, open one's mind, lay bare one's mind, tell a piece of one's mind, unbosom oneself, own to the soft impeachment, say the truth, speak the truth, turn King's evidence, Queen's evidence, acknowledge the corn, raise the mask, drop the mask, lift the mask, remove the mask, throw off the mask, expose, lay open, undeceive, unbeguile, disabuse, set right, correct, open the eyes of, d_esillusionner, be disclosed, transpire, come to light, come in sight, become known, escape the lips, come out, ooze out, creep out, leak out, peep out, crop-out, show its face, show its colors, discover itself, break through the clouds, flash on the mind.