tube

[ toob, tyoob ]

noun

1. a hollow, usually cylindrical body of metal, glass, rubber, or other material, used especially for conveying or containing liquids or gases.
2. a small, collapsible, cylinder of metal or plastic sealed at one end and having a capped opening at the other from which paint, toothpaste, or some other semifluid substance may be squeezed.
3. Anatomy, Zoology. any hollow, cylindrical vessel or organ:

   the bronchial tubes.

4. Botany.
   1. any hollow, elongated body or part.
   2. the united lower portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx.
5. inner tube.
6. Electronics. electron tube.
7. Informal.
   1. television.
   2. a television set.
8. mailing tube.
9. the tubular tunnel in which an underground railroad runs.
10. the railroad itself.
11. Surfing Slang. the curled hollow formed on the underside of a cresting wave.
12. British. subway ( def 1 ).
13. Australian Slang. a can of beer.
14. Older Slang. a telescope.

verb (used with object)

, tubed, tub·ing.

1. to furnish with a tube or tubes.
2. to convey or enclose in a tube.
3. to form into the shape of a tube; make tubular.

tube

/ tjuːb /

noun

1. a long hollow and typically cylindrical object, used for the passage of fluids or as a container
2. a collapsible cylindrical container of soft metal or plastic closed with a cap, used to hold viscous liquids or pastes
3. anatomy
   1. short for Eustachian tube Fallopian tube
   2. any hollow cylindrical structure
4. botany
   1. the lower part of a gamopetalous corolla or gamosepalous calyx, below the lobes
   2. any other hollow structure in a plant
5. the tube
   the tube
   1. Also calledthe underground an underground railway system US and Canadian equivalentsubway
   2. the tunnels through which the railway runs
   3. the train itself
   4. capital the London underground railway system
6. electronics
   1. another name for valve
   2. See electron tube cathode-ray tube television tube
7. the tube slang.
   the tube a television set
8. slang.
   a stupid or despicable person
9. slang.
   a bottle or can of beer
10. surfing the cylindrical passage formed when a wave breaks and the crest tips forward
11. See telescope
    an archaic word for telescope

verb

1. to fit or supply with a tube or tubes
2. to carry or convey in a tube
3. to shape like a tube

Derived Forms

• ˈtubeless, adjective
• ˈtube-like, adjective

Other Words From

• tubeless adjective
• tubelike adjective
• multi·tube adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tube¹

First recorded in 1590–1600, tube is from the Latin word tubus pipe

Word History and Origins

Origin of tube¹

C17: from Latin tubus

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. down the tube / tubes, Informal. into a ruined, wasted, or abandoned state or condition.

More idioms and phrases containing tube

see down the tubes .

Example Sentences

A towable tube will guarantee a wild ride for any seafarer, young and old.

From Popular-Science

The Platypus Big Zip has a three-liter capacity, and features a switchable tube set-up that can plug into either the bottom or a connection point halfway up the bladder.

From Popular-Science

This bike has a quick-release to hold the seatpost in the seat tube.

From Popular-Science

She remained on a ventilator and tube feedings for nearly five years.

From Science News

In experimental systems, researchers have attached different sorts of molecules to strips of paper, which can be dipped in a tube of saliva to produce the results of a home test in 30 minutes or less.

From Nautilus

With the help of mobility aids and a feeding tube, she lived well past her initial prognosis of death by age 4.

From The Daily Beast

That incident was due to an “equipment” problem (a steel tube ruptured)—resulting in explosive vapors being released and ignited.

From The Daily Beast

For hoodie-clad, Silicon Valley-types, this means more transistors in a dense integrated tube.

From The Daily Beast

With shorts, a man is expected to wear ankle socks rather than pulled up tube socks.

From The Daily Beast

Also, because a tube of lipstick stands in for the “i” in “science.”

From The Daily Beast

Drone: the largest tube of a bag-pipe, giving forth a dull heavy tone.

From Project Gutenberg

Should the vapor not condense well, the test-tube may be immersed in a glass of cold water.

From Project Gutenberg

For comparison, the gas may be passed through a test-tube containing an equal amount of distilled water.

From Project Gutenberg

At once cover the mouth of the tube with a filter-paper cap moistened with saturated aqueous solution of silver nitrate (1:1).

From Project Gutenberg

The best pipet is a small glass tube which has been drawn out at one end to a tip with rather small opening.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cylinder
• duct
• pipe
• pipeline
• tunnel