bell

A metal object, often shaped like a cup, that makes a ringing sound when struck.

• The bell is made of brass.
• Church bells rang across the village.
• She rang the bell on her bicycle.

Common phrases: church bell, door bell, ring a bell

A ringing sound that tells people something is starting, ending, or needs attention.

• We left when we heard the bell.
• The final bell ended the boxing match.
• At the bell, everyone hurried back to class.

Similar words: ring, signal

Common phrases: final bell, opening bell, school bell

A phone call, especially in friendly, casual conversation.

• Give me a bell tomorrow.
• I’ll give you a bell after lunch.
• She gave her brother a bell to check on him.

How to use it: give someone a bell (Give me a bell when you get home.)

Similar words: call, ring

Common phrases: give someone a bell, give me a bell

To put a small ringing object on an animal or another thing.

• They bell their sheep each spring.
• The farmer belled the goats before releasing them.
• We decided to bell the cat so birds could hear it coming.

Common phrases: bell a cat, bell the sheep, bell the cattle

To make the end of something wider, like the open end of a trumpet.

• Use this tool to bell the pipe.
• The worker belled the end of the copper tube.
• We must bell both ends before fitting the joints.

Similar words: flare

Common phrases: bell a tube, bell the end, bell a pipe