Advertisement
Advertisement
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 ( def 2 ).
- 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 by out ):
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
- ´¡³¦Â·³Ù´Ç²Ô [ak, -t, uh, n], pen name of Anne µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³Ùë.
- 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.
- °ä³Ü°ù·°ù±ð°ù [kur, -er], pen name of Charlotte µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³Ùë.
- Ellis, pen name of Emily µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³Ùë.
- 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/ ²úÉ›±ô /
noun
- BellActon, Currer Acton , Currer (ˈkÊŒrÉ™), and Ellis . pen names of the sisters Anne, Charlotte, and Emily µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³Ùë See µþ°ù´Ç²Ô³Ùë
- BellAlexander Graham18471922MUSScottishSCIENCE: scientistTECHNOLOGY: inventor Alexander Graham . 1847–1922, US scientist, born in Scotland, who invented the telephone (1876)
- BellSir Francis Henry Dillon18511936MNew ZealandPOLITICS: statesmanPOLITICS: prime minister Sir Francis Henry Dillon . 1851–1936, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1925)
- BellGertrude (Margaret Lowthian)18681926FBritishTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: travellerWRITING: writerPOLITICS: diplomat Gertrude ( Margaret Lowthian ). 1868–1926, British traveller, writer, and diplomat; secretary to the British High Commissioner in Baghdad (1917–26)
- BellJoshua1967MUSMUSIC: violinist Joshua. born 1967, US violinist
- BellSusan) Jocelyn1943FBritishSCIENCE: astronomer Dame ( Susan ) Jocelyn , married name Jocelyn Burnell , born 1943, British radio astronomer, who discovered the first pulsar
- BellVanessa18791961FBritishARTS AND CRAFTS: painter 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
2/ ²úÉ›±ô /
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
- slang.a telephone call (esp in the phrase give someone a bell )
- beat seven bells out of or knock seven bells out of informal.to give a severe beating to
- bell, book, and candle
- instruments used formerly in excommunications and other ecclesiastical acts
- the solemn ritual ratification of such acts
- ring a bellto sound familiar; recall to the mind something previously experienced, esp indistinctly
- sound as a bellin perfect condition
- the bellsthe 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
- bell the catto undertake a dangerous mission
bell
3/ ²úÉ›±ô /
noun
- a bellowing or baying cry, esp that of a hound or a male deer in rut
verb
- to utter (such a cry)
Bell
/ ²úÄ•±ô /
- 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 ˜yÐÄvlog Forms
- bell-less adjective
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of bell1
Origin of bell2
Idioms and Phrases
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- with bells on, Informal. eagerly; ready to enjoy oneself:
Just say when, and we'll be there with bells on.
- bell the cat. cat ( def 19 ).
More idioms and phrases containing bell
In addition to the idiom beginning with bell , also see clear as a bell ; ring a bell ; saved by the bell ; sound as a bell ; with bells on .Example Sentences
Pacific time on Wednesday, precisely when closing bells ring on Wall Street.
Mix in some diced onions and bell peppers, and throw the mixture into an electric pot with a sausage link.
As expected, there was no easing of animosity or embrace at the final bell.
But before long, alarm bells were starting to be rung.
FBI agents were simply going door to door ringing the bell and seeing if the people who answered might be down to share anything they might have seen.
Advertisement
More About Bell
What is a basic definition ofÌýbell?
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.Ìý
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.Ìý
A ²ú±ð±ô±ô’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 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.
Where doesÌýbell come from?
The first records of bell come from before the year 1000. It comes from the Old English word belle.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to bell?
- bell-less (adjective)
What are some synonyms for bell?
What are some words that share a root or word element with bell?Ìý
What are some words that often get used in discussing bell?
How isÌýbell used in real life?
Bell is a common word that most often refers to a hollow instrument used to make sound.
MAN THE TOWERS, RING THE BELLS!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB)
Reminder: students taking the ASVAB test this morning should report straight to the media center at the first bell! Good luck!
— BRHS Counselors (@BRHScounselors)
Why hasn't Taco Bell made a bell shaped taco, and call it The ?
— Evan • Taste of Country Nights (@BigBoyRadio)
Ìý
Ìý
Try usingÌýbell!
Is bell used correctly in the following sentence?
The line graph showed a bell shape, with a straight line from left to right.
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.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse