Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
WordNet
n. a telephone call that the receiving party is asked to pay for
Wikipedia
A collect call in Canada, Pakistan, and the United States, known as a reverse charge call in the majority of the English-speaking world, is a telephone call in which the calling party wants to place a call at the called party's expense. In the past, collect calls were only possible as an operator-assisted call, but with the introduction of computer-based telephone dialing equipment, it is now possible to place a collect call without using an operator, which is called automated operator services (AOS) as opposed to Home Country Direct (HCD). Several companies offer services to place collect calls that compete with local service providers. Collect calls can be made from almost any public pay telephone in the world by following directions posted on or near the phone. Collect calling has been in constant decline since the advent of cellular phones and VOIP products, which can offer cheaper international rates.
While Mother's Day has the highest number of phone calls, the most collect calls are made on Father's Day.
Other forms of paid communication, such as telegrams and mail, could also be sent as "collect".
Usage examples of "collect call".
Then, on my way back to collect the Cenci runabout, I made a routine collect call to my firm in London.
If she found a cheap pensdo and lived on beans she might reach New York with enough to make a collect call to Indiana.
I just want to know why in hell you'd accept a collect call from Montego Bay.
Louis, found a room in a shiny new motel overlooking the Gateway Arch, treated himself to a hot shower and a couple of cold Gibsons, and put in a collect call to Ellen's sister.