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
   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.
   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. 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

• ˈtube-like, adjective
• ˈtubeless, 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

She needed an urgent hysterectomy to remove her womb as well as some of her cervix, a fallopian tube and an ovary, plus part of her bladder.

From BBC

Her chemotherapy caused nausea, so Carolyn’s doctor ordered a nighttime feeding tube to supplement what little she was able to eat while awake.

From Los Angeles Times

Inserting this device would be similar to the procedure used to place a feeding tube into a patient's stomach, which is commonly done for people who are unable to eat or drink.

From Science Daily

They then piped air from outside their lab through the tube for 20 days.

From NewsForKids.net

In one November 2012 case, a baby boy collapsed and water was later found in his breathing tube - something highly unusual.

From BBC

Related Words

• cylinder
• duct
• pipe
• pipeline
• tunnel