tube

noun

\ ˈtüb

, ˈtyüb\

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 sense b

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

2a : 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

4a : 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

down the tube or down the tubes

: into a state of collapse or deterioration

Other Words from tube Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about tube

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Other Words from tube

tubed \ ˈtübd

, ˈtyübd \ adjective

tubelike \ ˈtüb-ˌlīk

, ˈtyüb- \ adjective

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 on the Web

The new design means the tubes can be just 99.99 percent pure, a standard that is doable with current technology. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Milestone Carbon-Nanotube Microchip Sends First Message: ‘Hello World!’," 30 Aug. 2019 And then there were the hippies, the UCLA students that listened to Carly Simon and the Beatles with their hip-hugger jeans and denim vests and tube tops. — Los Angeles Times, "Who made Eddie Murphy’s ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ ’70s costumes? ‘Black Panther’ Oscar-winner Ruth Carter," 29 Aug. 2019 Most important, the Obama campaign saw swag as a fund-raising tactic, selling everything from tube socks and dog collars to high-ticket designer items. — Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, "In the 2020 race, campaign swag matters. Can anyone top Trump’s MAGA hat?," 24 Aug. 2019 Flux tubes are real, cylindrical regions of space that contain larger magnetic fields than the space surrounding them. — Duff Mcdonald, WIRED, "The Cosmic, Psychedelic, Glow-in-the-Dark Art of Alex Aliume," 20 Aug. 2019 Doctors still had not realized the tube was open, the lawsuit alleges. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, "Utah woman bled to death into a garbage can during botched heart surgery, lawsuit says," 19 July 2019 Someone had already performed a tracheotomy -- an incision in the neck to open an airway -- and a tube was in his neck. — Eric Levenson, CNN, "This Navy SEAL is charged with murder. But another medic just admitted to the killing.," 20 June 2019 And the tubes aren’t quite as convenient to use as the plastic cases familiar to most consumers. — National Geographic, "The beauty industry generates a lot of plastic waste. Can it change?," 18 Apr. 2019 The chic tubes are completely customizable and reusable—plus, the brand will send you an automatic replacement bullet of your choice after purchase. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "5 Easy Ways to Jump-Start Your Fitness Goals in 2019," 12 Jan. 2019

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.

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Dictionary Entries near tube

Statistics for tube

Last Updated

6 Sep 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for tube

The first known use of tube was in 1651

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More Definitions for tube

tube

noun

English Language Learners Definition of tube

: 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

See the full definition for tube in the English Language Learners Dictionary

tube

noun

\ ˈtüb

, ˈtyüb\

Kids Definition of tube

1 : a long hollow cylinder used especially to carry fluids

2 : a long soft container whose contents (as toothpaste or glue) can be removed by squeezing

3 : a slender channel within a plant or animal body : duct

4 : a hollow cylinder of rubber inside a tire to hold air

5 : electron tube

6 : television sense 2

tube

noun

\ ˈt(y)üb

Medical Definition of tube

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a slender channel within a plant or animal body : duct — see bronchial tube, eustachian tube, fallopian tube

2a : an often complex piece of laboratory or technical apparatus usually of glass and commonly serving to isolate or convey a product of reaction a distillation tube

b : test tube

3 : a soft tubular container whose contents (as toothpaste) can be dispensed by squeezing

4 : a hollow cylindrical device (as a cannula) used for insertion into bodily passages or hollow organs for removal or injection of materials