bell

¹bell

noun \ˈbel\

Definition of BELL

1

a : a hollow metallic device that gives off a reverberating sound when struck b : doorbell

2

a : the sounding of a bell as a signal b : a stroke of a bell (as on shipboard) to indicate the time; also : the time so indicated c : a half hour period of a watch on shipboard indicated by the strokes of a bell — see ship's bells table below

3

: something having the form of a bell: as a : the corolla of a flower b : a bell-shaped organ or part (as the umbrella of a jellyfish or the dewlap of a moose) c : the part of the capital of a column between the abacus and neck molding d : the flared end of a wind instrument

4

a : a percussion instrument consisting of metal bars or tubes that when struck give out tones resembling bells —usually used in plural b : glockenspiel

bell table

Origin of BELL

Middle English belle, from Old English; perhaps akin to Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with BELL

bel, belle, cel, cell, dell, dwell, el, ell, fell, gel, Hel, hell, jell, knell, l, mell, quell, sell, shell, smell, snell, spell, swell, tell, well, yell