tell tell /ˈtɛl/

verb

1. () Express in words  ( state , tell , say )
   express in words
    He said that he wanted to marry her
   He said that he wanted to marry her
    Tell me what is bothering you
   tell me what is bothering you
    State your opinion
   state your opinion
    State your name
   state your name
   
2. () Let something be known  ( tell )
   let something be known
    Tell them that you will be late
   Tell them that you will be late
   
3. () Narrate or give a detailed account of  ( narrate , recite , recount , tell )
   narrate or give a detailed account of
    Tell what happened
   Tell what happened
    The father told a story to his child
   The father told a story to his child
   
4. () Give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority  ( enjoin , say , order , tell )
   give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
    I said to him to go home
   I said to him to go home
    She ordered him to do the shopping
   She ordered him to do the shopping
    The mother told the child to get dressed
   The mother told the child to get dressed
   
5. () Discern or comprehend  ( tell )
   discern or comprehend
    He could tell that she was unhappy
   He could tell that she was unhappy
   
6. () Inform positively and with certainty and confidence  ( tell , assure )
   inform positively and with certainty and confidence
    I tell you that man is a crook!
   I tell you that man is a crook!
   
7. () Give evidence  ( evidence , tell )
   give evidence
    He was telling on all his former colleague
   he was telling on all his former colleague
   
8. () Mark as different  ( secern , secernate , severalise [British] , differentiate , distinguish , separate , severalize , tell , tell apart )
   mark as different
    We distinguish several kinds of maple
   We distinguish several kinds of maple
   

 Tell

noun

1. A Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)  ( Tell , William Tell )
   a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap)