bell

play

noun \ˈbel\

Definition of bell

1a : a hollow metallic device that gives off a reverberating sound when struckb : doorbell
2a : the sounding of a bell as a signalb : a stroke of a bell (as on shipboard) to indicate the time; also : the time so indicatedc : 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: such asa : the corolla of a flowerb : a bell-shaped organ or part (such 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 moldingd : the flared end of a wind instrumente : the open mouth of a nozzle (such as of the exhaust of a jet engine) The heating was so intense … that the gas went rushing out the tail of the engine at 30,000 feet per second, or twice the speed at which exhaust leaves the bell of a conventional engine. — Jeffrey Kluger
4a : a percussion instrument consisting of metal bars or tubes that when struck give out tones resembling bells —usually used in pluralb : glockenspiel

get/have one's bell rung

US & Canada, informal, sports

: to be hit on the head : to suffer a concussion He had his bell rung on a blitz, and a short time later he was taken to Divine Providence Hospital. — Ralph Wiley

give (someone) a bell

British, informal

: to make a telephone call to Maybe Cowell can give him a bell towards the end of his marathon broadcast—that would certainly wake him up. — Mark Jefferies

bell table

Origin and Etymology of bell

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

bell

verb

Definition of bell

transitive verb
1 : to provide with a bell
2 : to flare the end of (something, such as a tube) into the shape of a bell
intransitive verb
: to take the form of a bell : flare

bell the cat

: to do a daring or risky deed

First Known Use of bell

14th century

bell

verb

Definition of bell

intransitive verb
: to make a resonant bellowing or baying sound the wild buck bells from ferny brake — Sir Walter Scott

Origin and Etymology of bell

Middle English, going back to Old English bellan “to roar” — more at bellow

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

bell

noun

Definition of bell

: bellow, roar

Origin and Etymology of bell

noun derivative of ³bell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1510

See Words from the same year

Bell

play

biographical name \ˈbel\

Definition of Bell

Alexander Graham 1847–1922 American (Scottish-born) inventor

Bell

play

geographical name \ˈbel\

Definition of Bell

city in southwestern California southeast of Los Angeles population 35,477

BELL Defined for Kids

bell

play

noun \ˈbel\

Definition of bell for Students

1 : a hollow metallic device that is shaped somewhat like a cup and makes a ringing sound when struck
2 : doorbell
3 : the stroke or sound of a bell that tells the hour
4 : the time indicated by the stroke of a bell
5 : a half-hour period of watch on shipboard
6 : something shaped like a bell the bell of a trumpet