bell
bell — noun
1. a button-operated device that sends out a short sound to call attention, usually
a button-operated device that sends out a short sound to call attention, usually at a door, desk, or beside a bed.
Mia pressed the bell beside the red gate, but nobody came.
press the bell
Please ring the bell at reception if the nurse is away.
ring the bell at + place
The patient pushed the bed bell when she needed more water.
A bell by the back door sounded during the late delivery.
文法句型
press the bell
ring the bell
用法筆記
Usually found in places where someone needs to call attention quickly, such as doors, reception desks, hotel rooms, or hospital beds. Distinguish from noun/2, which names the metal object itself.
常見錯誤
2. a metal object that gives a loud clear sound when it is struck, often by a piece
a metal object that gives a loud clear sound when it is struck, often by a piece hanging inside it.
The old church bell rang across the village before sunrise.
church bell
A brass bell hung over the shop door and shook in the wind.
During the race, the coach hit a hand bell to start.
Snow covered the cracked bell in the temple yard all winter.
文法句型
a church bell
a hand bell
用法筆記
This sense can refer to the object and, in some contexts, the sound it makes. Unlike noun/1, it is not mainly a push-button electrical device.
常見錯誤
3. a musical instrument made from a set of bells, metal balls, or metal tubes that
a musical instrument made from a set of bells, metal balls, or metal tubes that are hit to make different notes.
The drummer rolled the bells beside the drums before the concert.
bells in an orchestra
Rosa struck the bells with two light hammers during rehearsal.
strike the bells with hammers
In the school band, Ken played the bells beside the drums.
Only the bells play the final four notes after the drum roll.
- tubular bells
a more specific name when the instrument uses long metal tubes
- chimes
often used for a similar tuned set of metal pieces, especially in orchestral settings
- orchestral bells
formal music term for bell-based percussion in an orchestra
文法句型
play the bells
bells in an orchestra
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural when naming the instrument. Distinguish from noun/4, which is specifically the flat-bar instrument often called a glockenspiel.
常見錯誤
4. a musical instrument whose notes come from metal strips in different sizes, play
a musical instrument whose notes come from metal strips in different sizes, played by striking them with small beaters.
Nina played the bells with two rubber-tipped sticks at the concert.
play the bells with sticks
Our music teacher opened the case and lifted out the metal-bar bells.
Each flat metal bar on the bells gave a sharp high note.
After lunch, the children learned a simple song on the bells.
- glockenspiel
the standard music term for this instrument
- orchestra bells
another common name, especially in school and band settings
- xylophone
similar in layout, but a xylophone has wooden bars, not metal ones
文法句型
play the bells
song on the bells
用法筆記
Also usually plural. Distinguish from noun/3 by structure: this instrument has flat metal bars rather than a grouped set of bells or tubes.
常見錯誤
5. the flared opening at the far end of a trumpet or similar instrument, away from
the flared opening at the far end of a trumpet or similar instrument, away from the player's mouth.
The end of the trumpet widened into a bright silver bell.
the bell of a trumpet
Theo polished the bell of his saxophone before the show.
bell of + instrument
A small dent near the bell changed the horn's sound.
Warm air came out of the bell of the tuba.
- mouthpiece
the end placed at the player's mouth, opposite the bell
文法句型
the bell of a trumpet
near the bell
用法筆記
Used for brass and other wind instruments with a flared opening. It usually appears in phrases like 'the bell of the trumpet' or 'near the bell'.
常見錯誤
bell — verb
1. to fasten a bell to something, especially an animal, so it rings when it moves.
to fasten a bell to something, especially an animal, so it rings when it moves.
Farmers belled the goats before they climbed into the dark hills.
bell + animal
The lead sheep was belled so the others could follow it.
passive: be belled
For the parade, the children belled the pony with blue ribbons.
The cat was belled after it kept bringing birds home.
- fit with a bell
plain descriptive phrase with the same basic meaning
- attach
broader verb that does not itself suggest a bell
- equip
more general and formal; can refer to adding many kinds of items
- unbell
very rare opposite meaning: remove the bell
文法句型
bell + animal
be belled
用法筆記
Most often used for animals, and often in the passive. The idea is fitting a bell, not making a ringing sound.
常見錯誤
2. to call someone on the telephone.
to call someone on the telephone.
Bell me when you land in Osaka and find your hotel.
bell + person
Sam belled the garage as soon as the car stopped.
bell + place
If the train is late, bell your mum from the station.
I'll bell you after dinner to talk about Friday.
文法句型
bell + person
bell + place
用法筆記
Common in informal British English. When it takes an object, the object is the person or place called directly, without 'to'.
常見錯誤
3. to spread outward near the end until it looks like a bell.
to spread outward near the end until it looks like a bell.
The glass vase belled gently at the top.
intransitive: bell at the top
Smoke belled from the chimney as the wind caught it.
At the bottom, the white skirt belled over her shoes.
Near the mouth, the clay pot belled outward into a wide rim.
- narrow
to become smaller or tighter instead of spreading outward
文法句型
bell at the top
bell near the end
用法筆記
This sense is intransitive. It is most often used about ends, edges, cloth, smoke, or other things that widen into a flared shape.