bell1

 
Pronunciation: /bɛl/

noun

  • 1a hollow metal object, typically in the shape of a deep inverted cup widening at the lip, that sounds a clear musical note when struck, especially by means of a clapper inside: the church bells tolled a bell tinkled as he went in the shop [as modifier]: a bell tower
  • a device that includes or sounds like a bell, used to give a signal or warning: a bicycle bell
  • (the bell) (in boxing and other sports) a bell rung to mark the start or end of a round: they were dragged off each other at the final bell
  • 2a bell-shaped object or part, in particular:
  • 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 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: (as adjective belled) animals in gaudy belled harnesses
  • 2 [no object] make a ringing sound likened to that of a bell: the organ was belling away
  • [with object] British informal telephone (someone): no problem, I’ll bell her tomorrow
  • 3 [no object] spread outwards like the lip of a bell: her shirt belled out behind

Phrases

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: the company is putting bells and whistles on its notebook computer
[an allusion to the various bells and whistles of old fairground organs]

be saved by the bell

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

(as) clear (or sound) as a bell

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

give someone a bell

British informal telephone someone: tell him to give me a bell at the garage

ring a bell

informal sound vaguely familiar: the name 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