area code

IPA/ˈeəriə kəʊd/
IPA/ˈeriə kəʊd/

area code — noun

1. a group of numbers that you dial before a local telephone number when you are ca

1.名詞A2
釋義

a group of numbers that you dial before a local telephone number when you are calling someone in a different city, region, or country zone

例句

Andrei learned the new area code to call his family after the move.

learn + the + local + area code

A caller from Vancouver asked the receptionist for the area code before dialing the hotel.

ask for + the + area code

同義詞
  • dialling code

    British English term for the same concept; e.g., 'the London dialling code is 020'

  • STD code

    British English term (Subscriber Trunk Dialling); more formal and older-sounding than 'area code'

文法句型

the + area code

area code + of + place

dial + the + area code

area code + number

用法筆記

Common in contexts where callers need to dial a different telephone prefix for long-distance or out-of-town calls. The specific digits vary by country — Taiwan uses two-digit area codes (e.g., 02 for Taipei), while the US and Canada use three-digit codes.

常見錯誤

❌I dialed the zip code first.
✅I dialed the area code first.
💡'zip code' is for postal mail; 'area code' is for telephone calls.

2. a three-digit number that identifies a specific geographic region within a telep

2.名詞B1
釋義

a three-digit number that identifies a specific geographic region within a telephone network, used primarily in the United States and Canada to route calls to the correct destination

例句

Each major US city has its own three-digit area code for routing telephone calls.

three-digit + area code

When the population grew, the telephone company split the area code into two service regions.

split + the + area code

同義詞
  • dialing code

    Used in British and Australian English for the same technical concept

  • numbering plan area

    The official technical term used by telecom regulators; far more formal than 'area code'

文法句型

[number]-digit + area code

area code + serves + [region]

split + the + area code

用法筆記

More technical in tone than sense 1. This sense focuses on the telephone infrastructure system rather than the caller's action of dialing. Subject is frequently an institution (telephone company, telecom authority, numbering plan administrator).

常見錯誤

❌My area code is 310-555-1234.
✅My phone number is 310-555-1234; the area code is 310.
💡the area code is only the first three digits (in North America), not the full number.