1.告诉,告知
I'll tell her, but it won't have any effect.
我可以告诉她,但不会起什么作用。
2.提供,说明
The recipe tells how to make maple syrup dumplings.
这个制法讲如何做枫糖点心。
3.讲述,表达
I'll tell you what I've been thinking.
我来给你讲讲我这段时间的想法。
4.泄漏,泄密
Don’t tell him any secret. He’s a real blabbermouth.
别泄露给他任何秘密,他这人多嘴,会泄漏的。
5.命令,指示,吩咐
The light tells you if the machine is on.
指示灯告诉你机器是否在工作。
6.识别,辨别
No one could tell exactly what was going to happen.
谁也不能猜出到底会发生什么情况。
7.产生效果,发生影响
His unselfish work is beginning to tell.
他无私的工作开始产生效果。