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bell
1[bel]
noun
a hollow instrument of cast metal, typically cup-shaped with a flaring mouth, suspended from the vertex and rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, or the like.
the stroke or sound of such an instrument.
We rose at the bell.
anything in the form of a bell.
the large end of a funnel, or the end of a pipe, tube, or any musical wind instrument, when its edge is turned out and enlarged.
Architecture.the underlying part of a foliated capital.
Nautical.
any of the half-hour units of nautical time rung on the bell of a ship.
each individual ring of the bell, counted with others to reckon the time.
It is now four bells.
a signal on the telegraph of a large power vessel, made between the navigating officers and the engineer.
Zoology.umbrella.
Botany.the bell-shaped corolla of a flower.
Metallurgy.a conical lid that seals the top of a blast furnace and lowers to admit a charge.
verb (used with object)
to cause to swell or expand like a bell (often followed byout ).
Belling out the tubes will permit a freer passage of air.
to put a bell on.
Should we bell the wreath so we'll know when he opens the front door?
British Informal.to telephone.
If I have time, I’ll bell you from the office.
verb (used without object)
to take or have the form of a bell.
Botany.to produce bells; be in bell (said of hops when the seed vessels are forming).
bell
2[bel]
verb (used with or without object)
to bellow like a stag in rutting time.
to bay, as a hunting dog.
noun
the cry of a rutting stag or hunting dog.
Bell
3[bel]
noun
Acton pen name of Anne DzԳë.
Alexander Graham, 1847–1922, U.S. scientist, born in Scotland: inventor of the telephone.
(Arthur) Clive (Howard), 1881–1964, English critic of literature and art.
Currer pen name of Charlotte DzԳë.
Ellis, pen name of Emily DzԳë.
James Thomas Cool Papa, 1903–91, U.S. baseball player, a Negro Leagues outfielder noted for his speed.
John, 1797–1869, U.S. political leader: Speaker of the House 1834–35.
a city in SW California, near Los Angeles.
bell
1/ ɛ /
noun
a hollow, usually metal, cup-shaped instrument that emits a musical ringing sound when struck, often by a clapper hanging inside it
the sound made by such an instrument or device, as for showing the hours or marking the beginning or end of a period of time
an electrical device that rings or buzzes as a signal
the bowl-shaped termination of the tube of certain musical wind instruments, such as the trumpet or oboe
any musical percussion instrument emitting a ringing tone, such as a glockenspiel, one of a set of hand bells, etc Compare chime 1
nautical a signal rung on a ship's bell to count the number of half-hour intervals during each of six four-hour watches reckoned from midnight. Thus, one bell may signify 12.30, 4.30, or 8.30 a.m. or p.m
See diving bell
biology a structure resembling a bell in shape, such as the corolla of certain flowers or the body of a jellyfish
slanga telephone call (esp in the phrase give someone a bell )
informalto give a severe beating to
instruments used formerly in excommunications and other ecclesiastical acts
informalthe solemn ritual ratification of such acts
to sound familiar; recall to the mind something previously experienced, esp indistinctly
in perfect condition
the ringing of bells, in a church or other public building, at midnight on December 31st, symbolizing the beginning of a new year
verb
to be or cause to be shaped like a bell
(tr) to attach a bell or bells to
to undertake a dangerous mission
bell
2/ ɛ /
noun
a bellowing or baying cry, esp that of a hound or a male deer in rut
verb
to utter (such a cry)
Bell
3/ ɛ /
noun
Acton , Currer (ˈkʌrə), and Ellis . pen names of the sisters Anne, Charlotte, and Emily DzԳë See DzԳë
Alexander Graham . 1847–1922, US scientist, born in Scotland, who invented the telephone (1876)
Sir Francis Henry Dillon . 1851–1936, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1925)
Gertrude ( Margaret Lowthian ). 1868–1926, British traveller, writer, and diplomat; secretary to the British High Commissioner in Baghdad (1917–26)
Joshua. born 1967, US violinist
Dame ( Susan ) Jocelyn , married name Jocelyn Burnell , born 1943, British radio astronomer, who discovered the first pulsar
Vanessa , original name Vanessa Stephen . 1879–1961, British painter; a member of the Bloomsbury group, sister of Virginia Woolf and wife of the art critic Clive Bell (1881–1964)
Bell
Scottish-born American scientist and inventor whose lifelong interest in the education of deaf people led him to conceive the idea of transmitting speech by electric waves. In 1876 his experiments with a telegraph resulted in his invention of the telephone. He later produced the first successful sound recorder, an early hearing aid, and many other devices.
Other 51Թ Forms
- bell-less adjective
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of Bell1
Origin of Bell2
Idioms and Phrases
bell the cat. cat.
ring the bell,
to win; take the prize.
The camera lingered on the face of the coach as it registered that her team had at last rung the bell.
to succeed with or win over people.
Despite its promising start, the company has not yet designed a product that rings the bell.
ring someone's bell,
to deliver a serious blow to the head.
to be or provide what is desired, enjoyed, or preferred by someone.
Historical fiction just doesn't ring my bell.
Slang. to arouse sexually or bring someone to orgasm.
get/have one's bell rung,
to receive a serious blow to the head.
He'd had his bell rung one too many times playing professional sports.
to be aroused sexually or be brought to orgasm.
saved by the bell,
(of a boxer) saved from a knockout by the ringing of a gong signaling the end of a round.
(of any person) spared from anticipated trouble by some extraneous event.
ring a bell, to evoke a memory, especially a vague or partial recollection; remind one of something.
His name rings a bell but I can't remember him.
with bells on, eagerly; ready to enjoy oneself.
Just say when, and we'll be there with bells on.
Example Sentences
That same early closing bell will cut the brewery operating time in half on Thursdays and leave only four and a half of the regularly-scheduled 11 hours for business on Fridays.
Mills, 26, led at the bell but was passed in the final 400m as Nico Young of the United States came through to win in a personal best of 12 minutes 45.27 seconds.
Even then, alarm bells have been ringing, especially when England struggled to overcome Andorra, ranked 173rd in the world and just above Grenada and Nepal, in their third World Cup qualifier.
But nothing set off alarm bells, as Hill had also received her own money from her late mother.
He didn't invent electric cars, he just created one that has bells and whistles people like.
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When To Use
A bell is a hollow instrument, usually resembling a hollow cup with a flaring mouth and made out of metal. Bell is also the sound that this object makes. Bell can also refer to something shaped like a bell. Bell has several other uses as a noun and verb.Bells are common objects used to make sounds, usually to alert people to something. Bells come in many sizes and can make sounds that range from pleasant to shrill. Bells make noise either by being struck on the outside or by having something on the inside that strikes the inner surfaces.Real-life examples: Churches often use bells to indicate the current hour or that a religious service has started or ended. Schools use bells to alert students that a class has begun or ended. Jingle bells are often seen and heard during the winter holiday season. The Liberty Bell is a large bell that is considered a national symbol of the United States.Used in a sentence: The ringing of church bells could be heard all over town. Bell also refers to the distinctive sound that bells make. The sound is most often described as a “ringing” or “jingling” sound.Used in a sentence: The soldiers got out of bed at the bell. A ’s shape is often used as a point of reference.Real-life examples: A line on a chart that goes up, levels off, and goes down again in a symmetrical pattern is often described as bell-shaped or as a bell curve. The chrysaora jellyfish is shaped like a bell. A bell pepper is a sweet pepper shaped like a bell. Anything shaped like a bell might be called bell-shaped.Used in a sentence: The children were amazed by the bell-shaped body of the giant jellyfish.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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