bell — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.

   Examples

   HEAR the sledges with the bells — Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells!

   The bell which called the pupils to their lessons can still be seen on the roof.

2. An instrument that emits a ringing sound, situated on a bicycle's handlebar and used by the cyclist to warn of their presence.

3. The sounding of a bell as a signal.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Referee Steve Smoger was an almost invisible presence in the ring as both men went at it, although he did have a word with Froch when he landed with a shot after the bell at the end of the eighth.

4. A telephone call.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Informal

   Examples

   I’ll give you a bell later.

5. A signal at a school that tells the students when a class is starting or ending.

6. The flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument.

7. Any of a series of strokes on a bell (or similar), struck every half hour to indicate the time (within a four hour watch)

8. The flared end of a pipe, designed to mate with a narrow spigot.

9. The bell character.

   Synonyms

   alertbeep

10. Anything shaped like a bell, such as the cup or corolla of a flower.

    Examples

    In a cowslip's bell I lie.

11. The part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.

12. The rounded upper part of a jellyfish.

13. A bubble.

    Usage

    • Scotland
    • Archaic

    Examples

    More examples (1)

    He swam to the place where Mary disappeared but there was neither boil nor gurgle on the water, nor even a bell of departing breath, to mark the place where his beloved had sunk.

Verb

1. To attach a bell to.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Who will bell the cat?

2. To shape so that it flares out like a bell.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   to bell a tube

3. To telephone.

   Usage

   • Slang
   • Transitive

   Examples

   "Vinny, you tosser, it's Keith. I thought you were back today. I'm in town. Bell us on the mobile.

4. To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   Hops bell.

5. To ring a bell.

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   So that the Euston signalman may be advised of approaching trains as soon as possible, the Camden signalman sets up and transmits the description of each train immediately after it is belled to him.

Verb

1. To bellow or roar.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   This animal is said to harbour in the place where he resides. When he cries, he is said to bell; the print of his hoof is called the slot; his tail is called the single; his excrement the fumet; his horns are called his head [...].

   As the dawn was breaking the Sambhur belled / Once, twice and again!

   You acted part so well, went alɬ-fours upon earth / The live-long day, brayed, belled.

   More examples (1)

   Then, incredibly, a rutting stag belled by the trunks.

2. To utter in a loud manner; to thunder forth.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Their leaders bell their bleating tunes In doleful sound.

Noun

1. The bellow or bay of certain animals, such as a hound on the hunt or a stag in rut.

Noun

1. a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

   Broader terms

   acoustic devicesignaling device

2. a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed

   Synonyms

   doorbellbuzzer

   Broader terms

   push buttonpushbutton

3. the sound of a bell being struck

   Synonyms

   toll

   Broader terms

   sound

   Examples

   saved by the bell

   she heard the distant toll of church bells

4. (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.

   Synonyms

   ship's bell

   Broader terms

   time unitunit of time

5. the shape of a bell

   Synonyms

   bell shapecampana

   Broader terms

   curvecurved shape

6. a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument

   Synonyms

   chimegong

   Broader terms

   percussion instrumentpercussive instrument

7. the flared opening of a tubular device

   Broader terms

   opening

Verb

1. attach a bell to

   Broader terms

   attach

   Examples

   bell cows