bell
9 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
bells
plural
bells
Britannica Dictionary definition of BELL
[count]
1
:
a hollow usually cup-shaped metal object that makes a ringing sound when it is hit
—
see also bells and whistles
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ring/sound/toll a bell
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We heard the church bells ringing.
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The school bell clanged.
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a dinner bell [=a bell that is rung to call people to dinner]
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The round ended when the bell sounded.
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the Liberty Bell [=a large bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is a traditional symbol of U.S. freedom]
2
:
an electronic device that makes a ringing sound
— sometimes used figuratively
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We rang the bell [=doorbell] twice, but no one came to answer the door.
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Warning/alarm bells went off. = Warning/alarm bells started to sound/ring.
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(Warning/alarm) bells went off (in my head) as I read her letter. [=there was something in her letter that alarmed me]
3
:
something (such as a flower) that is shaped like a bell
(as) clear as a bell
(as) sound as a bell
give (someone) a bell
British, informal
:
to call someone on the telephone
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I'll give you a bell [=give you a call] tomorrow.
have/get your bell rung
◊ In informal U.S. and Canadian English, if you have/get your bell rung, you get hit hard on the head.
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The hockey/football player had his bell rung during the play.
