Definitions for bell
bɛlbell

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bellnoun

   a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

2. doorbell, bell, buzzernoun

   a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed

3. bell, tollnoun

   the sound of a bell being struck

   "saved by the bell"; "she heard the distant toll of church bells"

4. bell, ship's bellnoun

   (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.

5. bell, bell shape, campananoun

   the shape of a bell

6. Bell, Melville Bell, Alexander Melville Bellnoun

   a phonetician and father of Alexander Graham Bell (1819-1905)

7. Bell, Vanessa Bell, Vanessa Stephennoun

   English painter; sister of Virginia Woolf; prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group (1879-1961)

8. Bell, Alexander Bell, Alexander Graham Bellnoun

   United States inventor (born in Scotland) of the telephone (1847-1922)

9. chime, bell, gongnoun

   a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument

10. bellverb

    the flared opening of a tubular device

11. bellverb

    attach a bell to

    "bell cows"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Bellnoun

   a telephone utility; a Baby Bell.

2. Bellnoun

   A Scottish and northern English surname for a bell ringer, bellmaker, or from someone who lived "at the Bell (inn)"

3. Bellnoun

   The Bell telephone company (after , the inventor of the telephone.)

4. Bellnoun

   occasionally transferred from the surname.

5. Bellnoun

   A female given name, a variant of Belle; mostly used as a middle name in the 19th century.

6. Etymology: From belle, from bellōn. Cognate with Dutch bel.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. BELLnoun

   Etymology: bel, Saxon; supposed, by Stephen Skinner, to come from pelvis, Lat. a basin.

   1. A vessel, or hollow body of cast metal, formed to make a noise by the act of a clapper, hammer, or some other instrument striking against it. Bells are always in the towers of churches, to call the congregation together.

   Your flock, assembled by the bell,
   Encircled you, to hear, with rev’rence. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

   Get thee gone, and dig my grave thyself,
   And bid the merry bells ring to thy ear,
   That thou art crowned, not that I am dead. William Shakespeare, H. IV.

   Four bells admit twenty four changes in ringing, and five bells one hundred and twenty. William Holder, Elements of Speech.

   He has no one necessary attention to any thing, but the bell, which calls to prayers twice a day. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 264.

   2. It is used for any thing in the form of a bell, as the cups of flowers.

   Where the bee sucks, there suck I,
   In a cowslip’s bell I lie. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

   The humming bees that hunt the golden dew,
   In summer’s heat on tops of lilies feed,
   And creep within their bells to suck the balmy seed. Dryden.

   3. A small hollow globe of metal perforated, and containing in it a solid ball; which, when it is shaken by bounding against the sides, gives a sound.

   As the ox hath his yoke, the horse his curb, and the faulcon his bells, so hath man his desire. William Shakespeare, As you like it.

   4. To bear the bell. To be the first, from the wether, that carries a bell among the sheep, or the first horse of a drove that has bells on his collar.5.The Italians have carried away the bell from all other nations, as may appear both by their books and works. George Hakewill on Providence.6. To shake the bells. A phrase, in William Shakespeare, taken from the bells of a hawk.

   Neither the king, nor he that loves him best,
   The proudest he that holds up Lancaster,
   Dares stir a wing, if Warwick shakes his bells. William Shakespeare, H. VI.

2. To Bellverb

   To grow in buds or flowers, in the form of a bell.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   Hops, in the beginning of August, bell, and are sometimes ripe. John Mortimer, Husbandry.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bell

   A bell is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be made by an internal "clapper" or "uvula", an external hammer, or—in small bells—by a small loose sphere enclosed within the body of the bell (jingle bell). Bells are usually cast from bell metal (a type of bronze) for its resonant properties, but can also be made from other hard materials. This depends on the function. Some small bells such as ornamental bells or cowbells can be made from cast or pressed metal, glass or ceramic, but large bells such as a church, clock and tower bells are normally cast from bell metal. Bells intended to be heard over a wide area can range from a single bell hung in a turret or bell-gable, to a musical ensemble such as an English ring of bells, a carillon or a Russian zvon which are tuned to a common scale and installed in a bell tower. Many public or institutional buildings house bells, most commonly as clock bells to sound the hours and quarters. Historically, bells have been associated with religious rites, and are still used to call communities together for religious services. Later, bells were made to commemorate important events or people and have been associated with the concepts of peace and freedom. The study of bells is called campanology.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bell

   A bell is a hollow device usually made of metal that produces sound when it's struck or shaken, often used for signaling or making music. The sound it generates often has a distinctive resonant tone. Bells come in many shapes and sizes, from tiny jingle bells to large church or town bells.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bellnoun

   a hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a ringing sound on being struck

2. Bellnoun

   a hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved

3. Bellnoun

   anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower

4. Bellnoun

   that part of the capital of a column included between the abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital

5. Bellnoun

   the strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated

6. Bellverb

   to put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat

7. Bellverb

   to make bell-mouthed; as, to bell a tube

8. Bellverb

   to develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom; as, hops bell

9. Bellverb

   to utter by bellowing

10. Bellverb

    to call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a bellowing sound; to roar

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bell

   A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped acoustic resonator, which vibrates upon being struck. The striking implement can be a tongue suspended within the bell, known as a clapper, a separate mallet or hammer, or in small bells a small loose sphere enclosed within the body of the bell. Bells are usually made of cast metal, but small bells can also be made from ceramic or glass. Bells range in size from tiny dress accessories to church bells 5 meters tall, weighing many tons. Historically, bells were associated with religious rituals, and before mass communication were widely used to call communities together for both religious and secular events. Later bells were made to commemorate important events or people and have been associated with the concepts of peace and freedom. The study of bells is called campanology. A set of bells, hung in a circle for change ringing, is known as a ring of bells or peal of bells. A set 23 of bells spanning at least two octaves is a carillon.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bell

   bel, n. a hollow vessel of metal, which gives forth a ringing sound when struck by the tongue or clapper suspended inside—as in church-bell, hand-bell, alarm-bell, night-bell, marriage-bell, &c.: a corolla shaped like a bell: the body of a Corinthian or composite capital, without the surrounding foliage: anything bell-shaped, as in diving-bell, bell-glass, the bell or outward-turned orifice of a trumpet, &c.: a bell rung to tell the hour: (naut.) the bell struck on shipboard every half-hour as many times as there are half-hours of the watch elapsed—'two bells,' 'three bells,' &c., meaning that there are two or three half-hours past; the watch of four hours is eight bells.—v.t. to furnish with a bell, esp. in To bell the cat, to take the leading part in any hazardous movement, from the ancient fable of the mice who proposed to hang a warning bell round the cat's neck.—ns. Bell′cote (archit.), an ornamental structure made to contain one or two bells, and often crowned by a small spire; Bell′-crank, a rectangular lever in the form of a crank, used for changing the direction of bell-wires; Bell′-found′er, one who founds or casts bells; Bell′-glass, a bell-shaped glass for sheltering flowers; Bell′-hang′er, one who hangs and repairs bells; Bell′man, one who rings a bell, esp. on the streets, before making public announcements: a town-crier; Bell′-met′al, the metal of which bells are made—an alloy of copper and tin; Bell′-punch, a hand-punch containing a signal-bell, used for punching a hole in a ticket in order to keep a record of the number of fares taken; Bell′-ring′er, one whose business it is to ring a bell on stated occasions: a performer with musical hand-bells; Bell′-rope, the rope by which a bell is rung.—adj. Bell′-shaped.—ns. Bell′-tow′er, a tower built to contain one or more bells, a campanile; Bell′-tur′ret, a turret containing a bell-chamber, usually crowned with a spire; Bell′-weth′er, the leading sheep of a flock, on whose neck a bell is hung: (fig.) any loud, turbulent fellow, esp. the leader of a mob.—Bell, book, and candle, a phrase popularly used in reference to a form of excommunication ending with the words, 'Do to [shut] the book, quench the candle, ring the bell.'—To bear or carry off the bell, to have or to gain the first place. [A.S. belle; cog. with Dut. bel.]

2. Bell

   bel, n. a bubble formed in a liquid. [Ety. dub.; cf. Dut. bel, a bubble in water, perh. from L. bulla, bubble in water.]

3. Bell

   bel, v.i. to bellow, roar: to utter loudly.—n. the cry of a stag at rutting-time. [A.S. bellan, to roar; cf. Ger. bellen.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. bell

   Strike the bell. The order to strike the clapper against the bell as many times as there are half hours of the watch elapsed; hence we say it is two bells, three bells, &c., meaning there are two or three half-hours past. The watch of four hours is eight bells.

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. BELL

   What does BELL stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the BELL acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Bell

   A tavern sign, originally denoting a haunt for the lovers of sport, where a silver bell constituted the prize.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. BELL

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Bell is ranked #106 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Bell surname appeared 220,599 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 75 would have the surname Bell.
   
   61.1% or 134,808 total occurrences were White.
   32.3% or 71,364 total occurrences were Black.
   2.5% or 5,537 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   2.4% or 5,427 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   1% or 2,228 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.
   0.5% or 1,213 total occurrences were Asian.

Matched Categories

1. • Acoustic Device
   • Attach
   • Curved Shape
   • Inventor
   • Navigation
   • Painter
   • Percussion Instrument
   • Phonetician
   • Push Button
   • Signaling Device
   • Sound
   • Time Unit

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'bell' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3168

2. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'bell' in Nouns Frequency: #1465

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce bell?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say bell in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of bell in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of bell in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of bell in a Sentence

1. Jin Dongyan:

   We have been ringing the alarm bell again and again about this -- it's a hard-learned lesson not only for Hong Kong, but also for China.

2. Republican Representative Bruce Babin:

   The terrorist attack in Paris by militant Islamists is a loud clanging alarm bell to Congress and the American people warning us why we must block Obama’s reckless and foolish plan to allow tens of thousands of Syrian refugees into the U.S..

3. Angus Atkinson:

   It's a well-managed fishery but this is a warning bell about the future management, the industry is doing everything possible.

4. Ernest Hemingway:

   Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.

5. Michelle Pope:

   Ringing a bell was a way for me to make a little money to give my kids the Christmas they deserve.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=bell
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Bell
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=bell
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bell
7. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=bell
8. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=bell
9. ^ Dictionary of Nautical Terms
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/26000/pg26000-images.html#:~:text=bell
10. ^ Etymology and Origins
    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=bell
11. ^ Surnames Frequency by Census Records
    https://www.census.gov/topics/population/genealogy/data/2010_surnames.html
12. ^ Usage in printed sources
    https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=bell