Bell Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on September 9, 2025
Bell refers to a hollow metal device that makes a ringing sound when struck. e.g., The church bell rang at noon.
Table of Contents
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Bell Definitions
A percussion instrument made of metal that emits sound when struck.
The school's bell signals the end of each class.
A hollow object made of metal, often shaped like a cup with a clapper inside, used to make musical sounds.
The bell choir performed a beautiful melody.
A device used to call people to meals or to start or end periods of work.
The dinner bell brought the family to the table.
In nautical terms, a bell is used aboard ships to mark the time or signal orders.
Eight bells marked the end of his watch.
In music, the flared end of a brass or wind instrument.
The trumpet's bell projected the sound across the auditorium.
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A hollow metal musical instrument, usually cup-shaped with a flared opening, that emits a metallic tone when struck.
The round, flared opening of a wind instrument at the opposite end from the mouthpiece.
Bells A percussion instrument consisting of metal tubes or bars that emit tones when struck.
A hollow, usually inverted vessel, such as one used for diving deep below the surface of a body of water.
The corolla of a flower
"In a cowslip's bell I lie" (Shakespeare).
The body of a jellyfish.
A stroke on a hollow metal instrument to mark the hour.
The time indicated by the striking of this instrument, divided into half hours.
The bellowing or baying cry of certain animals, such as a deer in rut or a beagle on the hunt.
To put a bell on.
To cause to flare like a bell.
To assume the form of a bell; flare.
To utter long, deep, resonant sounds; bellow.
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.
An instrument that emits a ringing sound, situated on a bicycle's handlebar and used by the cyclist to warn of his or her presence.
The sounding of a bell as a signal.
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.
(music) The flared end of a brass or woodwind instrument.
(nautical) 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.
(computing) The bell character.
Anything shaped like a bell, such as the cup or corolla of a flower.
(architecture) 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.
A bubble.
The bellow or bay of certain animals, such as a hound on the hunt or a stag in rut.
(transitive) To attach a bell to.
Who will bell the cat?
(transitive) To shape so that it flares out like a bell.
To bell a tube
To telephone.
(intransitive) To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom.
Hops bell.
(intransitive) To bellow or roar.
(transitive) To utter in a loud manner; to thunder forth.
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.
A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which causes it to sound when moved.
Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower.
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.
The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so designated.
To put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat.
To make bell-mouthed; as, to bell a tube.
To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to blossom; as, hops bell.
To utter by bellowing.
To call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a bellowing sound; to roar.
As loud as belleth wind in hell.
The wild buck bells from ferny brake.
A hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
A push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed
The sound of a bell being struck;
Saved by the bell
She heard the distant toll of church bells
(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.
The shape of a bell
A phonetician and father of Alexander Graham Bell (1819-1905)
English painter; sister of Virginia Woolf; prominent member of the Bloomsbury Group (1879-1961)
United States inventor (born in Scotland) of the telephone (1847-1922)
A percussion instrument consisting of vertical metal tubes of different lengths that are struck with a hammer
The flared opening of a tubular device
Attach a bell to;
Bell cows
A signaling device that emits a ringing sound.
The fire alarm bell warned everyone to evacuate.
An electrical device that makes a ringing sound, used for alerts or communication.
He pressed the doorbell to announce his arrival.
A term used in boxing to indicate the start or end of a round.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the fight.
A shape or structure resembling a bell, especially in plants or architecture.
The bell tower is the tallest structure in the city.
A protective cover or enclosure, sometimes bell-shaped.
The glass bell jar displayed the model beautifully.
Bell Snonyms
Tintinnabulum
A small bell or a decorative object containing bells.
The tintinnabulum added a festive sound to the room.
Ding-dong
The sound made by a bell.
The door's ding-dong was loud and clear.
Tocsin
An alarm bell or signal.
The tocsin warned of the approaching storm.
Chime
A set of bells or tuned metal tubes, used for musical or signaling purposes.
The wind chimes sang softly in the breeze.
Siren
A device that produces a loud, piercing sound as a signal or warning.
The ambulance's siren could be heard blocks away.
Peal
A loud, prolonged ringing of bells.
A peal of bells celebrated the holiday.
Gong
A large Asian musical instrument, similar to a bell, struck with a mallet.
The gong sounded, marking the ceremony's beginning.
Klaxon
A loud electric horn or alarm.
The klaxon blared, signaling an emergency.
Carillon
A set of stationary bells hung in a tower and played by musical keyboard.
The carillon concert was a highlight of the festival.
Knell
The solemn sound of a bell, often indicating death or a funeral.
The knell echoed through the village, marking the end of the day.
Bell Idioms & Phrases
Clear as a bell
Very clear or easy to understand.
Her explanation was as clear as a bell.
Saved by the bell
Rescued from a difficult situation at the last moment.
He was about to be fired, but was saved by the bell when the company received a big order.
Bell and whistle
Additional features or trimmings.
The new car comes with all the bells and whistles.
For whom the bell tolls
Suggests that everyone's actions affect others.
He donated generously, knowing that for whom the bell tolls.
Bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action.
Who will bell the cat and tell the boss about the mistake?
Give (someone) a bell
To call someone on the telephone.
Give me a bell when you arrive.
Bell out
To widen or flare out at the end.
The dress bells out in a beautiful A-line shape.
Ring a bell
To sound familiar or recall something.
His name rings a bell, but I can't place where I've heard it.
As sound as a bell
In good condition; without damage or defect.
The mechanic said my car was as sound as a bell.
Bell Example Sentences
He repaired the old clock's bell so it could chime again.
When the bell tolls, it's time to head to class.
Every morning, the bell rings to start the school day.
The church bell can be heard even in the distant fields.
The dinner bell brings everyone together.
In the ship, the bell is crucial for keeping time during watches.
The bell in the town square marks every hour.
The firefighter rang the bell to alert the community.
She wore a dress with bell sleeves to the party.
He was fascinated by the different sounds each bell made.
The teacher uses a small bell to get the students' attention.
The bell over the door jingles every time a customer enters.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in bell?
Bell has one syllable.
How is bell used in a sentence?
The bell at the church rings every hour on the hour.
What is the pronunciation of bell?
Bell is pronounced as /bɛl/.
What is the root word of bell?
The root of "bell" comes from the Old English "belle," which is of uncertain origin but likely derived from Proto-Germanic languages.
How do we divide bell into syllables?
Bell is a single syllable word, so it is not divided.
Why is it called bell?
The term "bell" comes from the Old English word "belle," referring to a musical instrument that produces sound through the vibration of its sides after being struck.
What is a stressed syllable in bell?
In the word "bell," the single syllable is stressed: bell.
What is the first form of bell?
The first (base) form of "bell" is "bell" itself when considering its use as a verb in rare contexts (e.g., to bell a cat).
What part of speech is bell?
"Bell" is a noun.
What is the verb form of bell?
"Bell" does not have a conventional verb form relating to the noun's meaning. However, "to bell" can mean to attach a bell to something, as in animals.
What is another term for bell?
Another term for "bell" is "chime."
Is bell an adverb?
No, "bell" is not an adverb.
What is the plural form of bell?
The plural form is "bells."
Is bell a collective noun?
No, "bell" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is bell an abstract noun?
No, "bell" is a concrete noun since it refers to a physical object.
Is bell a negative or positive word?
"Bell" is neutral; it is neither inherently negative nor positive.
Is bell a vowel or consonant?
The word "bell" starts with a consonant.
Is the bell term a metaphor?
The term "bell" can be used metaphorically in certain expressions or literary contexts.
Is the word bell imperative?
The word "bell" itself is not imperative; it is a noun.
Is the word bell Gerund?
No, "bell" is not a gerund. Gerunds are verbs ending in -ing used as nouns.
Is the word “bell” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In a sentence, "bell" can be a direct object (e.g., He rang the bell).
Which preposition is used with bell?
Prepositions such as "of," "with," and "by" can be used with "bell" (e.g., "The bell of the church," "Rang with a bell").
Which conjunction is used with bell?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "bell" in compound sentences (e.g., "The bell rang and everyone started to gather").
What is the opposite of bell?
The opposite of a bell in terms of function (silence instead of sound) does not have a direct antonym, but "silencer" might conceptually apply in certain contexts.
Is bell a countable noun?
Yes, "bell" is a countable noun.
Which determiner is used with bell?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "every" can be used with "bell" depending on the context (e.g., "the bell," "a bell").
Which vowel is used before bell?
The vowel used before "bell" depends on the article or adjective (e.g., "an enormous bell").
Which article is used with bell?
The definite article "the" or the indefinite article "a" can be used with "bell" depending on whether a specific bell or any bell is being referred to.
What is the singular form of bell?
The singular form is "bell."
Is bell a noun or adjective?
"Bell" is a noun.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
