doorbell

American  

[dawr-bel, dohr-] / ˈdɔrˌbɛl, ˈdoʊr- /

noun

1. a bell chime, or the like, at a door or connected with a door, rung by persons outside wanting someone inside to open the door.

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verb (used without object)

1. to canvass or solicit from door to door, especially for votes or contributions.

Etymology

Origin of doorbell

First recorded in 1805–15; door + bell ¹

Example Sentences

That evening, as the Coadys were preparing for bed, someone from the Army rang their doorbell.

From The Wall Street Journal

The note told me to follow the agreed code: one long and two short rings on the doorbell.

From Literature

Until recently, hot cases at the court focused on issues such as Amazon’s contention that video doorbell cameras should be classified as digital still-image video cameras rather than transmission devices.

From The Wall Street Journal

He covered a doorbell camera at his home with duct tape at about 07:35 on the day of the shooting.

From BBC

Svelto wasn’t sure if the coyote was approaching her son until her partner Leonard Bessemer sent her the doorbell video and she watched the coyote follow Sal through their front gate from the street.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• buzzer