dial-up

dial-up — adjective

1. describes an older kind of internet or computer connection that works by having

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes an older kind of internet or computer connection that works by having a modem call a number on a normal telephone line, so the line cannot be used for phone calls at the same time.

Example

Arjun's family in the village still relies on a slow dial-up connection to check emails.

attributive: dial-up + connection

Before broadband reached our town, Christopher waited ten minutes for one photo to load on dial-up internet.

common collocation: dial-up internet

Common collocations
  • dial-up connection
  • dial-up internet
  • dial-up modem
  • dial-up service
  • slow dial-up
Antonyms
  • broadband

    the faster always-on technology that replaced dial-up in most homes

  • fibre-optic

    very high-speed cable-based internet; the modern opposite of dial-up

Grammar Patterns

dial-up + noun (connection, modem, internet, service)

Usage Note

Almost always used attributively before a noun (connection, modem, internet, service, session); rarely appears after 'be'. Often appears in contexts contrasting it with faster modern options such as broadband or fibre.

Common Mistakes

Our internet is dial-up at home.
We have a dial-up internet connection at home.
'dial-up' usually goes before a noun, not after 'be' on its own.
I will dial-up the website.
I will dial up the website.
as a verb the two words are separate; the hyphenated form is only the adjective.

Word family

  • dial
    verbB1
  • dial
    nounB1
  • dial up
    phrasal verbB2

Common collocations

Nouns

  • dial-up connection
  • dial-up internet
  • dial-up modem
  • dial-up service
  • dial-up access

Phrases

  • go on dial-up
  • still on dial-up

Prepositions

  • on dial-up

Etymology

English

Formed in the late 20th century from the verb phrase 'dial up' meaning to call a number on a telephone, plus the noun-modifying habit of joining the two words with a hyphen. The compound became common in the 1980s and 1990s as home computers used the public telephone network to reach online services.

First known use

1960

1960, in the meaning defined above