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, sportsUS & 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, informalBritish, 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
From the M-W Editors
Origin and Etymology 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
bell
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
14th Century
First Known Use of bell
14th century
bell
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
First Known Use: before 12th century
Origin and Etymology of bell
noun derivative of 3bell
First Known Use: 1510
Bell
playDefinition of Bell
Alexander Graham 1847–1922 American (Scottish-born) inventor
Bell
playDefinition of Bell
city in southwestern California southeast of Los Angeles population 35,477
BELL Defined for Kids
bell
playDefinition 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
Learn More about bell
-
See words that rhyme with bell Spanish Central: Translation of bell Nglish: Translation of bell for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bell for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bell
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up bell? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!