bell

[ bel ]

/ bɛl /

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noun

a hollow instrument of cast metal, typically cup-shaped with a flaring mouth, suspended from the vertex and rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, or the like.

the stroke or sound of such an instrument: We rose at the bell.

anything in the form of a bell.

the large end of a funnel, or the end of a pipe, tube, or any musical wind instrument, when its edge is turned out and enlarged.

Architecture. the underlying part of a foliated capital.

Nautical.

any of the half-hour units of nautical time rung on the bell of a ship.
each individual ring of the bell, counted with others to reckon the time: It is now four bells.
a signal on the telegraph of a large power vessel, made between the navigating officers and the engineer.

Zoology. umbrella (def. 2).

Botany. the bell-shaped corolla of a flower.

Metallurgy. a conical lid that seals the top of a blast furnace and lowers to admit a charge.

verb (used with object)

to cause to swell or expand like a bell (often followed by out): Belling out the tubes will permit a freer passage of air.

to put a bell on: Should we bell the wreath so we'll know when he opens the front door?

British Informal. to telephone: If I have time, I’ll bell you from the office.

verb (used without object)

to take or have the form of a bell.

Botany. to produce bells; be in bell (said of hops when the seed vessels are forming).

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Idioms about bell

bell the cat. cat (def. 19).

ring a bell, to evoke a memory, especially a vague or partial recollection; remind one of something: His name rings a bell but I can't remember him.

ring someone's bell,

to provide what is desired; be satisfactory or successful: This new book just doesn't ring my bell.
Slang. to arouse sexually or bring someone to orgasm.

Also ring the bell .

saved by the bell,

(of a boxer) saved from a knockout by the ringing of a gong signaling the end of a round.
(of any person) spared from anticipated trouble by some extraneous event.

with bells on, Informal. eagerly; ready to enjoy oneself: Just say when, and we'll be there with bells on.

Origin of bell

First recorded before 1000; Middle English, Old English belle; cognate with Dutch bel; derivative of bell²

OTHER WORDS FROM bell

bell-less, adjective

Other definitions for bell (2 of 3)

bell²

[ bel ]

/ bɛl /

verb (used with or without object)

to bellow like a stag in rutting time.

to bay, as a hunting dog.

noun

the cry of a rutting stag or hunting dog.

Origin of bell

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bellen, Old English bellan “to roar”; cognate with Old High German bellan, German bellen “to bark,” Middle Dutch bellen, belen, Old Norse belja; see bellow, belch

Other definitions for bell (3 of 3)

Bell

[ bel ]

/ bɛl /

noun

Ac·ton

[ak-tuhn], /ˈæk tən/, pen name of Anne Brontë.

Alexander Graham, 1847–1922, U.S. scientist, born in Scotland: inventor of the telephone.

(Arthur) Clive (Howard), 1881–1964, English critic of literature and art.

Cur·rer

[kur-er], /ˈkɜr ər/, pen name of Charlotte Brontë.

Ellis, pen name of Emily Brontë.

James Thomas "Cool Papa", 1903–91, U.S. baseball player, a Negro Leagues outfielder noted for his speed.

John, 1797–1869, U.S. political leader: Speaker of the House 1834–35.

a city in SW California, near Los Angeles.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use bell in a sentence

France 24 is providing live, round-the-clock coverage of both scenes as they progress.
LIVE Coverage of the Paris Terror Attacks||January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A lot of people ring in the New Year with vows to lose weight and exercise.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sands was involved in a scandalous-for-the-time romance with the carpenter and there were rumors she was pregnant with his child.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Three on-the-record stories from a family: a mother and her daughters who came from Phoenix.
I Tried to Warn You About Sleazy Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2003|Vicky Ward|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST

These brave souls took an icy dip in the ocean to ring in 2015 and raise money for charity.
Diving Into 2015 With Polar Bear Plunge Extremists|James Joiner|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I was rather awed by his imposing appearance, and advanced timidly to the doors, which were of glass, and pulled the bell.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
When the whole hunt is hunting up, each single change is made between the whole hunt, and the next bell above it.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman
Keep closely covered with a bell glass and, in a few weeks, more or less, the baby Ferns will start to put in an appearance.
How to Know the Ferns|S. Leonard Bastin
Mrs. Vivian had hardly spoken when the sharp little vibration of her door-bell was heard in the hall.
Confidence|Henry James

British Dictionary definitions for bell (1 of 3)

bell¹

/ (bɛl) /

noun

a hollow, usually metal, cup-shaped instrument that emits a musical ringing sound when struck, often by a clapper hanging inside it

the sound made by such an instrument or device, as for showing the hours or marking the beginning or end of a period of time

an electrical device that rings or buzzes as a signal

the bowl-shaped termination of the tube of certain musical wind instruments, such as the trumpet or oboe

any musical percussion instrument emitting a ringing tone, such as a glockenspiel, one of a set of hand bells, etcCompare chime 1 (def. 3)

nautical a signal rung on a ship's bell to count the number of half-hour intervals during each of six four-hour watches reckoned from midnight. Thus, one bell may signify 12.30, 4.30, or 8.30 a.m. or p.m

See diving bell

biology a structure resembling a bell in shape, such as the corolla of certain flowers or the body of a jellyfish

British slang a telephone call (esp in the phrase give someone a bell)

beat seven bells out of or knock seven bells out of British informal to give a severe beating to

bell, book, and candle

instruments used formerly in excommunications and other ecclesiastical acts
informal the solemn ritual ratification of such acts

ring a bell to sound familiar; recall to the mind something previously experienced, esp indistinctly

sound as a bell in perfect condition

the bells the ringing of bells, in a church or other public building, at midnight on December 31st, symbolizing the beginning of a new year

verb

to be or cause to be shaped like a bell

(tr) to attach a bell or bells to

bell the cat to undertake a dangerous mission

Word Origin for bell

Old English belle; related to Old Norse bjalla, Middle Low German bell; see bell ²

British Dictionary definitions for bell (2 of 3)

bell²

/ (bɛl) /

noun

a bellowing or baying cry, esp that of a hound or a male deer in rut

verb

to utter (such a cry)

Word Origin for bell

Old English bellan; related to Old Norse belja to bellow, Old High German bellan to roar, Sanskrit bhāsate he talks; see bellow

British Dictionary definitions for bell (3 of 3)

Bell

/ (bɛl) /

noun

Acton, Currer (ˈkʌrə), and Ellis . pen names of the sisters Anne, Charlotte, and Emily BrontëSee Brontë

Alexander Graham . 1847–1922, US scientist, born in Scotland, who invented the telephone (1876)

Sir Francis Henry Dillon . 1851–1936, New Zealand statesman; prime minister of New Zealand (1925)

Gertrude (Margaret Lowthian). 1868–1926, British traveller, writer, and diplomat; secretary to the British High Commissioner in Baghdad (1917–26)

Joshua. born 1967, US violinist

Dame (Susan) Jocelyn, married name Jocelyn Burnell, born 1943, British radio astronomer, who discovered the first pulsar

Vanessa, original name Vanessa Stephen . 1879–1961, British painter; a member of the Bloomsbury group, sister of Virginia Woolf and wife of the art critic Clive Bell (1881–1964)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for bell

Bell

[ bĕl ]

Sir Charles 1774-1842

British anatomist and surgeon who published detailed anatomies of the nervous system and the brain. He was the first to distinguish between sensory and motor nerves. Bell's Law and Bell's palsy are named for him.

Scientific definitions for bell

Bell

[ bĕl ]

Alexander Graham 1847-1922

Scottish-born American scientist and inventor whose lifelong interest in the education of deaf people led him to conceive the idea of transmitting speech by electric waves. In 1876 his experiments with a telegraph resulted in his invention of the telephone. He later produced the first successful sound recorder, an early hearing aid, and many other devices.

Other Idioms and Phrases with bell

bell

In addition to the idiom beginning with bell

bell the cat, who will

also see:

clear as a bell
ring a bell
saved by the bell
sound as a bell
with bells on

bell

Idioms about bell

Origin of bell

OTHER WORDS FROM bell

Other definitions for bell (2 of 3)

Origin of bell

Other definitions for bell (3 of 3)

Words related to bell

How to use bell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bell (1 of 3)

Word Origin for bell

British Dictionary definitions for bell (2 of 3)

Word Origin for bell

British Dictionary definitions for bell (3 of 3)

Medical definitions for bell

Scientific definitions for bell

Other Idioms and Phrases with bell