1. [n]  the face of a timepiece; graduated to show the hours
2. [n]  a disc on a telephone that is rotated a fixed distance for each number called
3. [n]  the circular graduated indicator on various measuring instruments
4. [n]  the control on a radio or television set that is used for tuning
5. [v]  choose by means of a dial; "dial a telephone number"
6. [v]  operate a dial to select a telephone number; "You must take the receive off the hook before you dial"

1. \Di"al\, n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See
   {Deity}.]
   1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of
      day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated
      arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and
      astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to
      the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either
      horizontal or vertical.
   2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of
      day is shown by pointers or hands.
   3. A miner's compass.
   {Dial bird} (Zo["o]l.), an Indian bird ({Copsychus
      saularius}), allied to the European robin. The name is
      also given to other related species.
   {Dial lock}, a lock provided with one or more plates having
      numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be
      adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can
      be operated.
   {Dial plate}, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on
      which lines and figures for indicating the time are
      placed.
   

2. \Di"al\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Dialed}or {Dialled}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Dialing} or {Dialling}.]
   1. To measure with a dial.
            Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven.
                                                  --Talfourd.
   2. (Mining) To survey with a dial. --Raymond.
   

for the measurement of time, only once mentioned in the Bible, erected by Ahaz (2 Kings 20:11; Isa. 38:8). The Hebrew word (ma'aloth) is rendered "steps" in Ex. 20:26, 1 Kings 10:19, and "degrees" in 2 Kings 20:9, 10, 11. The _ma'aloth_ was probably stairs on which the shadow of a column or obelisk placed on the top fell. The shadow would cover a greater or smaller number of steps, according as the sun was low or high.

Probably the sun-dial was a Babylonian invention. Daniel at Babylon (Dan. 3:6) is the first to make mention of the "hour."