# bell

/ˈbɛɫ/ (US) · /bˈɛl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bell
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. hollow metal object

noun · CEFR A2

a hollow metal object, usually shaped like a cup, that makes a ringing sound when you hit it.

For teachers: a hollow, typically cup-shaped metal percussion instrument that resonates when struck by a clapper or hammer.

- The church bell rings every Sunday morning to call people to the service.
- The heavy bronze bell was suspended from a massive oak beam in the cathedral tower, requiring three men to swing it.

### 2. a signal

noun · CEFR A2

the sound of a bell used as a signal, like at school or at the end of a boxing round.

For teachers: the sounding of a bell or electronic chime as a signal to indicate a specific time or event.

- The students ran into the classroom as soon as the school bell rang.
- The boxer was saved by the bell just as his opponent was preparing a final knockout blow.

### 3. a telephone call

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

a telephone call.

For teachers: a telephone call; common in idiomatic expressions like 'give someone a bell'.

- I'll give you a bell tomorrow when I get home from work.
- If you find yourself with some spare time this weekend, give me a bell and we can discuss the project details.

### 4. flared shape

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the wide, open end of a musical instrument like a trumpet.

For teachers: the flared or expanding end of a hollow object, such as a brass instrument or a pipe.

- The trumpet player polished the bell of his instrument until it shone.
- The acoustic properties of the trombone are heavily influenced by the diameter and curvature of its bell.

### 5. nautical time

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a sound made every half hour on a ship to tell the time.

For teachers: a series of strokes on a ship's bell struck every half hour to mark the passage of a four-hour watch.

- The sailor struck eight bells, signaling the end of the midnight watch.
- Life aboard the vessel was strictly regulated by the sounding of the bells, which dictated the rotation of the crew's duties.

### 6. insult

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang · Vulgar

a very rude word for a person you think is stupid.

For teachers: a highly derogatory term for a person perceived as stupid or contemptible; a clipping of a more vulgar anatomical term.

- Don't listen to him; he's being a total bell.
- The argument escalated quickly when one driver called the other a bell after a minor traffic disagreement.

### 7. to call someone

verb · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

to call someone on the telephone.

For teachers: to contact a person via telephone.

- Can you bell me later this evening to confirm the plans?
- He promised to bell the office as soon as the contract was signed, but we haven't heard from him yet.

### 8. to attach a bell

verb · CEFR B2

to put a bell on something, like a cat's collar.

For teachers: to provide or equip an animal or object with a bell.

- We decided to bell the cat so the birds would hear him coming.
- The farmer chose to bell the lead cow to make the herd easier to locate in the thick morning mist.

## Examples

- The school bell rings at three o'clock.
- The captain rang the ship's bell to signal that the morning watch had finally ended.
- In many traditional villages, the church bell serves as a communal clock, marking the hours and calling residents to gather for important local events.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.