tube

noun

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\ 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 Phrases Containing tube Learn More About tube

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 From there, select the self-clean option, which will prompt the machine to scrub its tube and brush for you. — Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2022 Also, unlike the Peptide Glazing Fluid, the Barrier Repair Cream is loaded in its tube. — Megan Decker, refinery29.com, 27 July 2022 The station cited sources that said the 17-year-old Glen Allen, Virginia, resident fell from her tube. — Bill Wagner, Baltimore Sun, 4 July 2022 Consumers — especially Millennials and Gen Z-ers — increasingly feel uncomfortable about sustainability issues such as wasteful packaging and the thousands of vans needed to be able to deliver your tube of toothpaste within 24 hours. — Greg Petro, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2022 There's something about scraping the edge of your favorite eye cream container or squeezing every last drop from your daily cleanser tube that's both satisfying and saddening. — Alex Warner, PEOPLE.com, 10 Mar. 2022 Just snap your toothpaste tube upside down into the device and slide your toothbrush head into the dispenser. — Heath Owens, Good Housekeeping, 4 Mar. 2022 The brand-spanking-new formula, available in 25 shades, doesn't just come with a near-opaque payoff and creamy texture — staple skin-care ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, squalane, and turmeric are housed in its unique, triangular tube. — Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, 4 Feb. 2022 Here’s the gist: over a voiceover of a Sesame Street character, Zoe, asking Elmo if her pet rock, Rocco, can float in his tube, a user explains a demand a wedding guest has made. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, 21 Jan. 2022 See More

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

tub desk

tube

tube cell

Statistics for tube

Last Updated

13 Aug 2022

Cite this Entry

“Tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tube. Accessed 18 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for tube

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

tube

transitive verb

tubed; tubing

Medical Definition of tube (Entry 2 of 2)

: to furnish with, enclose in, or pass through a tube the patient is then anesthetized … and tubed — Anesthesia Digest