tell in WordNet English dictionary

1. inform positively and with certainty and confidence
   "I tell you that man is a crook!"
   assure  tell 
   
2. mark as different
   "We distinguish several kinds of maple"
   distinguish  separate  differentiate  secern  secernate  severalize  severalise  tell  tell apart 
   
3. give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
   "I said to him to go home"; "She ordered him to do the shopping"; "The mother told the child to get dressed"
   order  tell  enjoin  say 
   
4. give evidence
   "he was telling on all his former colleague"
   tell  evidence 
   
5. narrate or give a detailed account of
   "Tell what happened"; "The father told a story to his child"
   tell  narrate  recount  recite 
   
6. express in words
   "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name"
   state  say  tell 
   
7. discern or comprehend
   "He could tell that she was unhappy"
   tell 
   
8. let something be known
   "Tell them that you will be late"
   tell