tube

noun \ ˈtüb , ˈtyüb \

|Updated on: 9 Aug 2018

Examples: tube in a Sentence

Definition of tube

1 : any of various usually cylindrical structures or devices: such as

a : a hollow elongated cylinder; especially : one to convey fluids

b : a soft tubular container whose contents (such as toothpaste) can be removed by squeezing

c (1) : tunnel

(2) British : subway b

d : the basically cylindrical section between the mouthpiece and bell that is the fundamental part of a wind instrument

2 a : a slender channel (such as a fallopian tube or a pollen tube) within a plant or animal body : duct

b : the narrow basal portion of a corolla with united petals or a calyx with united sepals

3 : inner tube

4 a : electron tube; especially : vacuum tube

b : cathode-ray tube; especially : a television picture tube

c : television

5 : an article of clothing shaped like a tube

a tube top

tube socks

—

tubed

play \ˈtübd, ˈtyübd\ adjective

—

tubelike

play \ˈtüb-ˌlīk, ˈtyüb-\ adjective

— down the tube or down the tubes

: into a state of collapse or deterioration

See tube defined for English-language learners

See tube defined for kids

Examples of tube in a Sentence

She was breathing oxygen through a tube.
watched the liquid move through the tube between the flasks and recorded the movement in his chemistry notebook

Recent Examples of tube from the Web

But Parappa seemed dated, partially because it wasn't changed from its tube TV-era aspect ratio.

— harold goldberg, chicagotribune.com, "Classic games, lovingly reimagined in 'Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy'," 13 July 2018
Float tubes provide a cooler alternative for getting out on the water.

— jordan rodriguez, idahostatesman, "How to beat the heat on your fishing trips in Idaho’s summer sun," 12 July 2018
Consider a test-tube example, almost ordered up to make the court’s case for it, vouchsafed by California just a few weeks ago.

— holman w. jenkins, WSJ, "The Court Shows the System Works," 6 July 2018
Make sure the connection between the balloon and tube is airtight.

— svenja lohner, Scientific American, "Floating with a Swim Bladder," 5 July 2018
The crew of the EV Nautilus used underwater robots equipped with a suction tube to slurp up samples of sediment.

— sandi doughton, The Seattle Times, "Meteorite search off the Washington coast recovers two small fragments," 3 July 2018
My belayer was using a common tube-style belay device (one with no assisted braking).

— hayden carpenter, Outside Online, "Testing Wild Country's Revo Belay Device," 2 July 2018
Trust was the reason shipmates could live and work, for months at a time, in a windowless tube crammed with 100 other people.

— brenna bailey, azcentral, "Trust, brotherhood and pink underwear: USS Phoenix submarine vets reflect on life at sea," 27 June 2018
In typical Fenty fashion, the packaging for the liners is beyond chic; a rose gold tube encases the product, which features a micro-thin tip for creating the perfect, razor-sharp line, every time.

— zoë weiner, Teen Vogue, "Fenty Beauty Is Launching a Liquid Eyeliner Called Flyliner," 26 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tube.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tube

French, from Latin tubus; akin to Latin tuba trumpet

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1651

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

tube Synonyms

Synonyms

channel, conduit, duct, leader, line, penstock, pipe, trough;

pipage (or pipeage), pipeline, piping;

TUBE Defined for English Language Learners

tube

noun

Definition of tube for English Language Learners

: a long, hollow object that is used especially to control the flow of a liquid or gas
: an object shaped like a pipe
: a soft, long, narrow container that has a small opening at one end and that contains a soft material which can be pushed out by squeezing