bell en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /bɛl/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- /bel/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
- bĕl
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-der. Proto-Germanic *bellǭ Proto-West Germanic *bellā Old English belle Middle English belle English bell Inherited from Middle English belle, from Old English belle, from Proto-West Germanic *bellā, from Proto-Germanic *bellǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel-. Cognate with West Frisian belle, bel (“bell”), Dutch bel (“bell”), Low German Belle, Bel (“bell”), Danish bjælde (“bell”), Faroese bjølla (“bell”), Icelandic bjalla (“bell”), Norwegian bjelle (“bell”), Swedish bjällra (“bell”).
Meanings
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A percussive instrument made of metal or other hard material, typically but not always in the shape of an inverted cup with a flared rim, which resonates when struck.
HEAR the sledges with the bells — Silver bells! What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
1848, Edgar Allan Poe, The Bells:The bell which called the pupils to their lessons can still be seen on the roof.
1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 269, about a school in Lower Peover:
- An instrument that emits a ringing sound, situated on a bicycle's handlebar and used by the cyclist to warn of their presence.
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The sounding of a bell as a signal.
Referee Steve Smoger was an almost invisible presence in the ring as both men went at it, although he did have a word with Froch when he landed with a shot after the bell at the end of the eighth.
2011 December 18, Ben Dirs, “Carl Froch outclassed by dazzling Andre Ward”, in BBC Sport:
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(UK, informal) A telephone call.
I’ll give you a bell later.
- A signal at a school that tells the students when a class is starting or ending.
- The flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument.
- Any of a series of strokes on a bell (or similar), struck every half hour to indicate the time (within a four hour watch)
- The flared end of a pipe, designed to mate with a narrow spigot.
- The bell character.
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Anything shaped like a bell, such as the cup or corolla of a flower.
In a cowslip's bell I lie.
1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:
- The 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.
- The rounded upper part of a jellyfish.
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(Scotland, archaic) A bubble.
He swam to the place where Mary disappeared but there was neither boil nor gurgle on the water, nor even a bell of departing breath, to mark the place where his beloved had sunk.
1828, James Hogg, Mary Burnet:
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(UK, abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, slang, vulgar) Clipping of bell-end (“stupid or contemptible person”).
alt of bell-end
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| bells | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
ding-dong (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · tocsin (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · siren (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · peal (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · curfew (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · buzz (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · buzzer (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · dinger (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · ringer (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · gong (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · alarm (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · chime (Terms coordinate with bell (noun)) · toll (Terms coordinate with bell (noun))
Deriveds
call bell · bell curve · silverbell · subscriber bell · bell-mouthed · division bell · dead bell · bell-bottoms · skellet bell · market bell · with bells on · bellfounder · bell boy · Oconee bells · sleigh bell · bell character · Bell Common · smells and bells · bell, book and candle · mort bell · firebell · bell tower · da bell · bell frog · snowbell · Christmas bells · magnetobell · Mass bell · passing bell · bell deck · lowbell · bellhopper · bell button · hell's bells · ring someone's bell · altar bell · bellpush · bell arch · mountain bell · yellow bells · lose the bell · ship's bells · bells and whistles · seven bells · peal of bells · handbell · sandbell · bell buoy · bell heather · bell gable · belllike · bell lyre · the seven bells · soul bell · shop-bell · bell-like · bear away the bell · bell the cat · sance bell · sound as a bell · bellcrank · mindfulness bell · death bell · sacring-bell · bell-end · bellman · coral bells · bellbox · bell-bottomed trousers · joy bell · bell up · notification bell · passing-bell · dressing-bell · leper's bell · swimming bell · bell housing · bellcast · bell metal · bell miner · bell cot · clear as a bell · coral-bells · bellist · you can't unring a bell · undern-bell · bellhop · sacring bell · forebell · bell punch · bell-topper · harebell · bell crank · alarm-bell · sledgebell · sheep-bell · alarm bell · bell hopper · bell glide · bellwort · low-bell · saints' bell · joy-bell · merrybell · bellcote · on a bell · bell pepper · bell-bottom · wedding bells · bell bottoms · saved by the bell · bellperson · bell-bind · cap and bells · dumbbell · bellringing · agogo bell · bell turret · bell curve god · bellpull · bellflower · dumb-bell · seven bells out of · bell-bottomed · bell cart · Bell Green · bell apple · lych bell · bell sleeve · bell founder · Canterbury bells · bell-tent · bell-bearer · Bell Island · bell tent · bellmaking · larum-bell · bellbind · pull the other one, it's got bells on · bear the bell · ring one's bell · bell-wether · bellboy · bellgirl · bell jar · Bell Bar · save by the bell · bell lerp · monkey's dinner bell · belled · church bell · cow bell · telephone-bell · bell ringer · bell-bottom trousers · windbell · diving bell · Roanoke bells · bellmouth · ring of bells · bell-magpie · bellfounding · bellbird · door-bell · bell-collar · bell-shaped · doorbell · bell end · diving-bell · belldom · bluebell · bell-faced · tubular bells · bell cow · dinner bell · hawkbell · bell bean · fog bell · sanctus bell · sprinkler bell · bell-horse · bell-founder · bell lyra · bellwether · bell-ringing · bell tree · warning bell · minute bell · Angelus bell · Six Bells · mule bell · bell push · sleighbell · bells and smells · calling bell · bell pit · kettlebell · bellhouse · ring a bell · bell animalcule · sunnybell · engine bell · bellmaker · bellwoman · heather-bell · bell-pull · bell rope · bell-gable · wind-bell · subscription bell · bell captain · bell-metal ore · bell trap · bell sniff · unring a bell · horse-bell · give someone a bell · coralbells · cowbell · jingle bell · bell chord · bell work · diving bell spider
Descendants
Holonyms
campanile (structure housing bells) · carillon (sets of bells) · peal (sets of bells) · bell tower (structure housing bells)
Hyponyms
peal (Kinds of bell (noun)) · campane (Kinds of bell (noun)) · campanel (Kinds of bell (noun)) · yong bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · dupla (Kinds of bell (noun)) · cascabel (Kinds of bell (noun)) · nola (Kinds of bell (noun)) · tintinnabulum (Kinds of bell (noun)) · vesper (Kinds of bell (noun)) · codon (Kinds of bell (noun)) · curfew (Kinds of bell (noun)) · corrigiunculum (Kinds of bell (noun)) · bicycle bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · table bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · squilla (Kinds of bell (noun)) · jingle bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · church bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · dinner-bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · campanella (Kinds of bell (noun)) · tocsin (Kinds of bell (noun)) · doorbell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · crotal (Kinds of bell (noun)) · corrigiuncula (Kinds of bell (noun)) · curfew-bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · handbell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · vesper-bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · signum bell (Kinds of bell (noun)) · signum (Kinds of bell (noun)) · petasius (Kinds of bell (noun)) · bridle-bell (Kinds of bell (noun))
Meronyms
mouth (flaring open end) · clapper (internally suspended tool for striking) · tongue (internally suspended tool for striking)
Relateds
campaned (containing bells) · campanologic (bell-related) · tintinnabulary (player of bells) · campanist (expert in bells) · campaniform (bell-shaped) · campanilian (related to a peal of bells or bell tower) · tinkling (sounding like a small bell) · campanulated (bell-shaped) · tintinnabulating (sounding like a small bell) · jingling (sounding like a small bell) · carilloneur (player of bells) · campanarian (bell-related) · tintinnating (sounding like a small bell) · campanulate (bell-shaped) · campanal (bell-shaped) · campanologist (expert in bells) · tintinnabular (bell-related) · study of bells · bell-shaped (bell-shaped) · tintinnabulous (bell-related) · carillonist (player of bells) · tintinnation (playing of bells) · tintinnabulatory (bell-related) · campaniliform (bell-shaped) · campanular (bell-shaped) · tintinnabulate (bell-shaped) · bell-ringing (playing of bells) · tintinnabulation (playing of bells) · carilloner (player of bells) · campanistic (bell-related) · campanulous (bell-shaped) · bell-ringer (player of bells) · tintinnabulant (sounding like a small bell) · ringer (player of bells) · tintinnabulism (playing of bells) · tintinnabulist (player of bells) · tintinnabulary (bell-related)
Synonyms
campane (in heraldry) · mul:\a · tintinnabule · beep · alert
Translations (334)
cs zvonek (percussive instrument) · de Fahrradklingel (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · sv pling (informal: telephone call) · ang belle (percussive instrument) · ms loceng (percussive instrument) · pam kampana (percussive instrument) · cs zvonek (signal at a school) · hu hívás (informal: telephone call) · fr pavillon (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · ru скля́нка (nautical: any of a series of strokes struck to indicate time) · be звано́к (signal at a school) · bg камбанови́дно разшире́ние (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · ko 종소리 (signal at a school) · sk zvonček (percussive instrument) · lo ລະຄັງ (percussive instrument) · uk дзвіно́к (signal at a school) · ilo kampanilia (percussive instrument) · bn ঘণ্টা (percussive instrument) · km កណ្ដឹង (percussive instrument) · bni ngonga (percussive instrument) · sip ཏིང་ཏིང (percussive instrument) · bg камба́на (percussive instrument) · cs zvon (percussive instrument) · gl campaíña (percussive instrument) · ru звоно́к (sounding of a bell as a signal) · orv клаколъ (percussive instrument) · fa زَنْگ (informal: telephone call) · fa زَنْگ (signal at a school) · fr sonnette (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · de Fahrradglocke (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · ja ベル (percussive instrument) · sk zvonček (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · nb bjelle (percussive instrument) · zu insimbi (percussive instrument) · alt коҥору (percussive instrument) · el τηλεφώνημα (informal: telephone call) · zh 通話 /通话 (informal: telephone call) · ru ра́струб (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · he צִלְצוּל (informal: telephone call) · ota چاك (nautical: any of a series of strokes struck to indicate time) · be звано́к (informal: telephone call) · pt badalada (sounding of a bell as a signal) · unm sèhsalàmpwehun (percussive instrument) · sv bjällra (percussive instrument) · ru ко́локол (percussive instrument) · war bagtingan (percussive instrument) · fa زَنْگ (percussive instrument) · de Glocke (percussive instrument) · rup cãmbanã (percussive instrument) · sw kengele (percussive instrument) · alt шаҥ (percussive instrument) · de Telefonanruf (informal: telephone call) · tr zil (informal: telephone call) · he צִלְצוּל (signal at a school) · luy ekengele (percussive instrument) · bcl bagtingan (percussive instrument) · so koor (percussive instrument) · mww tswb (percussive instrument) · cs zvonec (percussive instrument) · nog конъырав (percussive instrument) · ko 벨 (percussive instrument) · hu csengő (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · cy cloch (percussive instrument) · nl bel (signal at a school) · sq zile (signal at a school) · pam bakting (percussive instrument) · ka ზარი (percussive instrument) · de Pausenglocke fSchulglocke (signal at a school) · fi lasi (nautical: any of a series of strokes struck to indicate time) · ja ベル (signal at a school) · uz qoʻngʻiroq (signal at a school) · fi kello (signal at a school) · it campana (percussive instrument) · ab асаркьал (percussive instrument) · eo tinto (sounding of a bell as a signal) · hu telefonhívás (informal: telephone call) · pl czara (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · fi kello (percussive instrument) · ca campana (percussive instrument) · el κουδούνι (signal at a school) · gd clag (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · kac hkawng lawng (percussive instrument) · el καμπάνα (percussive instrument) · sv klocka (percussive instrument) · id loceng (percussive instrument) · id bel (percussive instrument) · krc къонгуроу (percussive instrument) · sl zvon (percussive instrument) · uk дзвіно́к (informal: telephone call) · mfe laklos (percussive instrument) · dlm campuona (percussive instrument) · es pabellón (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · ar اِتِّصَال (informal: telephone call) · km ចួង (percussive instrument) · ilo kampana (percussive instrument) · sh зво̏но (percussive instrument) · ccc kasesepi (percussive instrument) · zh 鐘 /钟 (signal at a school) · lez зенг (percussive instrument) · eu kanpai (percussive instrument) · br kloc'h (percussive instrument) · ast campana (percussive instrument) · gd clag (percussive instrument) · pt sino (percussive instrument) · lb Klack (percussive instrument) · hy զանգ (informal: telephone call) · pl dzwon (percussive instrument) · zdj kengele (percussive instrument) · de Glocke (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ru звоно́к (informal: telephone call) · ht klòch (percussive instrument) · sc campana (percussive instrument) · it chiamata (informal: telephone call) · sid bilbila (percussive instrument) · de Schelle (signal at a school) · fi tiuku (percussive instrument) · rup chipru (percussive instrument) · az zəng (percussive instrument) · gd clag (nautical: any of a series of strokes struck to indicate time) · la tintinnabulum (signal at a school) · ba ҡыңғырау (percussive instrument) · lol ngonga (percussive instrument) · ko 종 (signal at a school) · ko 벨 (sounding of a bell as a signal) · kk қоңырау (percussive instrument) · zh 鐘 /钟 (percussive instrument) · eo sonorilo (percussive instrument) · fr coup de fil (informal: telephone call) · cs zvoneček (percussive instrument) · om bilbila (percussive instrument) · gl esquilo (percussive instrument) · ur گَھنْٹی (percussive instrument) · tr zil (signal at a school) · ceb linganay (percussive instrument) · da glas (nautical: any of a series of strokes struck to indicate time) · sh zvȍno (percussive instrument) · la campana (percussive instrument) · cu клаколъ (percussive instrument) · he פַּעֲמוֹן (percussive instrument) · ja チャイム (signal at a school) · es campanilla (percussive instrument) · bi bel (percussive instrument) · rsk дзвон (percussive instrument) · ryu かに (percussive instrument) · hi घंटा (percussive instrument) · orv колоколъ (percussive instrument) · sq lingë (percussive instrument) · jam bel (percussive instrument) · ja 通話 (informal: telephone call) · izh kello (percussive instrument) · nl klok (percussive instrument) · ckv amil (percussive instrument) · ota چاك (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ru звоно́к (signal at a school) · crh çañ (percussive instrument) · uz zang (percussive instrument) · ka ზანზალაკი (percussive instrument) · war tilingtiling (percussive instrument) · eo sonorilo (signal at a school) · ba ҡыңғырау (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ur گَھنْٹَہ (percussive instrument) · pl dzwonek (informal: telephone call) · arc ܙܓܐ (percussive instrument) · uz qoʻngʻiroq (percussive instrument) · ps چان (percussive instrument) · pt toque (informal: telephone call) · ota چاك (signal at a school) · ar جَرَس (percussive instrument) · de Glocke (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · nrf clioche (percussive instrument) · nrf clloque (percussive instrument) · pt campainha (percussive instrument) · pt campainha (signal at a school) · de Glocke (signal at a school) · is klukka (percussive instrument) · eo tintilo de biciklo (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · ja ベル (sounding of a bell as a signal) · hy զանգակ (percussive instrument) · nn klokke (percussive instrument) · am ደወል (percussive instrument) · ro clopot (percussive instrument) · mi pere (percussive instrument) · pam tale (percussive instrument) · pt campainha (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · tyv звонок (percussive instrument) · cs zvonění (signal at a school) · ota ناقوس (percussive instrument) · sk zvonenie (signal at a school) · sv klockstycke (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · uk дзво́ник (percussive instrument) · ln ngonga (percussive instrument) · ga clog (percussive instrument) · sw kengele (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · war kampana (percussive instrument) · eu txirrin (percussive instrument) · es campana (percussive instrument) · gd clag (sounding of a bell as a signal) · hu csengő (signal at a school) · fo klokka (percussive instrument) · hy զանգ (percussive instrument) · wa cloke (percussive instrument) · it telefonata (informal: telephone call) · tr çalma (sounding of a bell as a signal) · pdt Kjlinja (percussive instrument) · oj godotaagan (percussive instrument) · vi chuông (percussive instrument) · sk zvonček (signal at a school) · mn хонх (percussive instrument) · arc זגא (percussive instrument) · nb ringeklokke (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · tr çan (percussive instrument) · de Anruf (informal: telephone call) · pl dzwonek (percussive instrument) · gl campá (percussive instrument) · pl dzwonek (signal at a school) · tt чаң (percussive instrument) · crh çañ sesi (percussive instrument) · kum къонгурав (percussive instrument) · fr cloche (percussive instrument) · tg занг (percussive instrument) · de Gong (sounding of a bell as a signal) · fur čhampane (percussive instrument) · ja 鐘 (percussive instrument) · hi घंटी (percussive instrument) · lv zvans (percussive instrument) · la tintinnābulum (percussive instrument) · eo tintilo (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · av цӏумур (percussive instrument) · is bjalla (signal at a school) · fr sonnerie (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ar جرس (percussive instrument) · tyv коңга (percussive instrument) · et kell (percussive instrument) · pt sinal (signal at a school) · nn bjølle (percussive instrument) · zh 鈴 /铃 (percussive instrument) · pam mungmungan (percussive instrument) · gl sino (percussive instrument) · mk ѕво́нче (signal at a school) · hy զանգ (signal at a school) · uk дзвін (percussive instrument) · fr sonnerie (signal at a school) · te గంట (percussive instrument) · hrx Glock (percussive instrument) · my ခေါင်းလောင်း (percussive instrument) · de Klingel (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · gd clag (signal at a school) · tg зангӯла (percussive instrument) · ko 통화 (informal: telephone call) · bg звън (informal: telephone call) · bcl kampana (percussive instrument) · fi kello (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · nl bel (percussive instrument) · fa تَماس (informal: telephone call) · hu csengetés (sounding of a bell as a signal) · gl badalada (sounding of a bell as a signal) · sv pingla (percussive instrument) · lt varpas (percussive instrument) · da klokke (percussive instrument) · ota چاك (percussive instrument) · izh kello (signal at a school) · rcf klos (percussive instrument) · ckb زەنگ (percussive instrument) · nb innringing (signal at a school) · nb sjallstykke (the flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument) · ky коңгуроо (percussive instrument) · de Glogg (percussive instrument) · tab зенг (percussive instrument) · esu kuluk'uunaq (percussive instrument) · sl zvonec (signal at a school) · ru звонок (an instrument situated on a bicycle's handlebar) · war kampanilya (percussive instrument) · lo ກະດິງ (percussive instrument) · os дзӕнгӕрӕг (percussive instrument) · tk jaň (percussive instrument) · ja 鐘 (signal at a school) · ru звон (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ba ҡыңғырау (signal at a school) · vec canpana (percussive instrument) · war linganay (percussive instrument) · hu harang (percussive instrument) · de Telefonat (informal: telephone call) · tl kampana (percussive instrument) · de Klingel (signal at a school) · fi soitto (informal: telephone call) · ug قوڭغۇراق (percussive instrument) · bo དྲིལ་བུ (percussive instrument) · shn ၶွင်းလွင်း (percussive instrument) · mk ѕвоно (percussive instrument) · nl belletje (informal: telephone call) · ceb kampana (percussive instrument) · la nola (percussive instrument) · be звано́чак (percussive instrument) · be звон (percussive instrument) · oc campana (percussive instrument) · mk ѕвонче (percussive instrument) · sq këmbanë (percussive instrument) · bg звъне́ц (signal at a school) · th ระฆัง (percussive instrument) · eo sonorado (sounding of a bell as a signal) · pag banting (percussive instrument) · nb klokke (percussive instrument) · de Klingel (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ug جاڭ (percussive instrument) · fi soitto (sounding of a bell as a signal) · fur cjampane (percussive instrument) · pag kampana (percussive instrument) · yi גלאָק (percussive instrument) · ru колоко́льчик (percussive instrument) · th กระดิ่ง (percussive instrument) · it campanella (signal at a school) · sk zvon (percussive instrument) · fa زَنْگولِه (percussive instrument) · ta மணி (percussive instrument) · ilo batingting (percussive instrument) · grc κώδων (percussive instrument) · ja 鈴 (percussive instrument) · sq zile (percussive instrument) · mnc ᠵᡠᠩ (percussive instrument) · is bjalla (percussive instrument) · uk дзвіно́к (sounding of a bell as a signal) · ojb madwesidoon (sounding of a bell as a signal) · af klok (percussive instrument) · kmr zing (percussive instrument) · wa clotche (percussive instrument) · af bel (percussive instrument) · ko 종 (percussive instrument) · ilo kikiling (percussive instrument) · sw kengele (signal at a school) · sw kengele (informal: telephone call) · nb ringing (informal: telephone call) · mnc ᡥᠣᠩᡤᠣᠨ (percussive instrument) · is símtal (informal: telephone call) · ml മണി (percussive instrument)