During the late 1990s, dial-up was the only way many households could connect to the internet, and waiting for the connection to establish felt like an eternity.

Our field office still relies on a dial-up connection for sending daily reports.

The surveyor set the miner's dial on its tripod and sighted the distant marker to record accurate bearings.

The machinist used a dial gauge to check the flatness of the surface plate.

The technician used several dial gauges to check the runout on the rotating shaft.

The museum warned visitors not to handle the antique watch with its radium dial, citing safety concerns.

I set my mother's number on speed dial so I can call her with one press.

Please speed-dial Mom when you arrive so she knows you're safe.

At the retro computing exhibit, the dial-ups were demonstrated to show how slow early internet access could be.

She apologized after realizing her butt dials woke him up at midnight.