tube

A long, hollow object with a round shape, often used to carry air or liquid.

• Water flows through the tube.
• The machine has several thin plastic tubes.
• Connect this tube to the pump before switching it on.

Similar words: pipe, tubing

Common phrases: plastic tube, glass tube, through a tube

A long container that you squeeze to get out a soft substance, such as toothpaste or cream.

• This tube of toothpaste is empty.
• She squeezed paint from the tube.
• Put the cap back on both tubes.

How to use it: a tube of something (I bought a tube of hand cream.)

Common phrases: tube of toothpaste, tube of cream, squeeze the tube

The train system that runs mainly below the streets of London.

• We took the tube home.
• The nearest tube station is five minutes away.
• Which tube line goes to the museum?

How to use it: by tube (We travelled across London by tube.)

Similar words: London Underground, Underground

Common phrases: take the tube, tube station, tube map

To float along a river or ride on water while sitting in a large rubber ring.

• We tube here every summer.
• They tubed down the river together.
• Have you ever tubed through rapids?

How to use it: tube down something (We tubed down the river on a warm afternoon.)

Common phrases: tube downriver, tube downstream, tube on something

To put something inside a long, hollow container, or fit it with such a container.

• This machine tubes the cream.
• Workers tubed the lipstick before packing it.
• The samples must be tubed and sealed for transport.

Common phrases: tube the cream, tube the samples, tube the product

To put a breathing pipe into a person's throat to help them breathe.

• They had to tube the patient.
• The doctor tubed him when his breathing stopped.
• She was tubed before being connected to a ventilator.

Similar words: intubate

Opposites: extubate

Common phrases: tube the patient, tube someone immediately, tube someone urgently