Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

bell1

Syllabification: (bell)
Pronunciation: /bel/
Translate bell | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of bell

noun

  • 1a hollow object, typically made of metal and having the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, typically by means of a clapper inside.
  • a device that includes or sounds like a bell, used to give a signal or warning:a bicycle bell
  • (the bell) a bell rung to denote intervals of time, such as (in boxing and other sports) to mark the start or end of a round:at the bell, we dashed out of Latin class the fight went to the final bell for a decision
  • 2a bell-shaped object or part of one, such as the end of a trumpet.
  • the corolla of a bell-shaped flower:a flower with small, pale blue bells
  • 3 (bells) a musical instrument consisting of a set of cylindrical metal tubes of different lengths, suspended in a frame and played by being struck with a hammer. Also called tubular bells.
  • 4 Nautical (preceded by a numeral) the time as indicated every half hour of a watch by the striking of the ship’s bell one to eight times:at five bells in the forenoon of June 11

verb

  • 1 [with object] provide with a bell or bells; attach a bell or bells to:the young men were belling and hobbling the horses before releasing them (as adjective belled)animals in gaudy belled harnesses
  • 2 [no object] make a ringing sound likened to that of a bell:the organ belling away
  • 3 [no object] spread or flare outward like the lip of a bell:her shirt belled out behind

Phrases

be saved by the bell

(in boxing and other sports) avoid being counted out by the ringing of the bell at the end of a round.
escape from danger narrowly or by an unexpected intervention.

bell the cat

take the danger of a shared enterprise upon oneself.
[an allusion to a fable in which the mice (or rats) suggest hanging a bell around the cat's neck to have warning of its approach]

bells and whistles

informal attractive additional features or trimmings:an advocate of more bells and whistles on the income tax code
[an allusion to the various bells and whistles of old fairground organs]

(as) clear (or sound) as a bell

perfectly clear or sound:Aunt Nora’s words came clear as a bell

ring a bell

informal revive a distant recollection; sound familiar:the name Woodall rings a bell

with bells on

North American informal enthusiastically:everybody’s waiting for you with bells on

Origin:

Old English belle, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch bel, and perhaps to bell2

bell in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of bell in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Word of the day

enjambement

/ ɪnˈdʒam(b)m(ə)nt /
noun
(in verse) the continuation of a sentence without a pause …