tube

noun

ˈtüb How to pronounce tube (audio)
ˈtyüb
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
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
4
a
: electron tube
especially : vacuum tube
b
: cathode-ray tube
especially : a television picture tube
5
: an article of clothing shaped like a tube
a tube top
tube socks
tubed
ˈtübd How to pronounce tube (audio)
ˈtyübd
adjective
tubelike
ˈtüb-ˌlīk How to pronounce tube (audio)
ˈtyüb-
adjective
Phrases
down the tube or down the tubes
: into a state of collapse or deterioration

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 To make a cast form, bulk up a paper towel tube by wrapping three or four plastic bags around it. Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 21 Mar. 2024 Nearby was a playground with swings and a blue tube slide. Alexandra Ma, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 The traditional way of dealing with this is to stick all the critical components in a sealed titanium tube that can maintain ambient pressure and keep moisture out. IEEE Spectrum, 11 Mar. 2024 In reply, a video feed appears, revealing a robot arm over a bin containing various items—a pair of socks, a tube of chips, and an apple among them. Will Knight, WIRED, 11 Mar. 2024 When budgets get tight, there’s nothing a tube of lipstick can’t solve. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 5 Mar. 2024 The cream is available in an 8.76 fluid-ounce tube or a travel-safe 3.38 fluid-ounce tube. Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 7 Mar. 2024 To arrive at this conclusion, the scientists first extracted venom from the scorpion by mild electrical stimulation to the telsons (stinger) and collected the venom through capillary tubes. Scott Travers, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The fabric is semi-sheer and thin enough to tie in many different ways, allowing the garment to serve as a skirt, tube dress, halter dress, shawl, and even as a lightweight beach blanket. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tube.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin tubus; akin to Latin tuba trumpet

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tube was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near tube

Cite this Entry

“Tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tube. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tube

noun
1
a
: a slender channel within a plant or animal body : duct
b
: a long hollow cylinder
especially : one to carry fluids
c
: the part of a wind instrument that connects the mouthpiece with the open end
2
: a soft container shaped something like a tube whose contents (as toothpaste or glue) can be removed by squeezing
3
4
5
6
: an article of clothing shaped like a tube
tube socks
tubed adjective
tubelike adjective

Medical Definition

tube

1 of 2 noun
1
: a slender channel within a plant or animal body : duct see bronchial tube, eustachian tube, fallopian tube
2
a
: 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
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

2 of 2 transitive verb
tubed; tubing
: to furnish with, enclose in, or pass through a tube
the patient is then anesthetized … and tubedAnesthesia Digest

More from Merriam-Webster on tube

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!