Bell Definition
bĕl
bells
noun
bells
A hollow metal musical instrument, usually cup-shaped with a flared opening, that emits a metallic tone when struck.
American Heritage
A hollow object, usually cuplike, made of metal or other hard material which rings when struck, as by a clapper inside.
Webster's New World
Something resembling such an instrument in shape or sound, as:
American Heritage
Such an object rung to mark the hours or the beginning and end of a period of time.
Webster's New World
A stroke on a hollow metal instrument to mark the hour.
American Heritage
verb
bells
To put a bell on.
American Heritage
To utter long, deep, resonant sounds; bellow.
American Heritage
To attach a bell or bells to.
Webster's New World
To flare out like a bell.
Webster's New World
To cause to flare like a bell.
American Heritage
pronoun
The Bell telephone company (after Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone.)
Wiktionary
A male given name occasionally transferred from the surname.
Wiktionary
A female given name, a variant of Belle; mostly used as a middle name in the 19th century.
Wiktionary
idiom
bell the cat
- To perform a daring act.
American Heritage
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Bell
Origin of Bell
-
From Old English belle, from Proto-Germanic *bellǭ. Cognate with Dutch bel.
From Wiktionary
From Middle English bellen to bellow from Old English bellan
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Old English bellan. Cognate with German bellen (“to bark”).
From Wiktionary
Middle English belle from Old English
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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