bellbell /bel/ ●●● S2 W3 noun [countable] 
a piece of electrical equipment that makes a ringing sound, used as a signal or to get someone’s attentionring/press the bell
He rang the bell and waited for someone to answer the door. She pressed the bell for the nurse.a bell rings/goes The bell went and everyone rushed out of the classroom.2a hollow metal object like a cup with a piece of metal hanging inside it, that makes a ringing noise when it moves or you shake it: church bells3give somebody a bell British English spoken to telephone someone: I must give Vicky a bell later.4something that is shaped like a bell: the bell of a flower → alarm bells ring at alarm1(5), → as clear as a bell at clear1(10), → ring a bell at ring2(4), → diving bell, doorbellCOLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2verbsa bell rings· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.ring a bell· He was ringing a big brass bell.a bell rings out (=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.a bell sounds· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.a bell chimes (=it rings a certain number of times, in order to tell you the time of day)· The bells began to chime, calling people to church.a bell tolls (=it slowly rings with a long low sound, when someone has died)· The church bell was tolling mournfully as the carriage entered the cemetery gate.a bell tinkles (=a small bell rings with a gentle high sound)· We were sleeping under the stars, camel bells tinkling in a cool breeze.NOUN + bella church bell· She woke on Sunday morning to the sound of church bells.wedding bells (=rung when people marry in a church)· Mark and Bridget seem very happy and we expect to hear wedding bells soon.phrasesa peal of bells (=the sound of bells being rung several times)· From the temple he could hear the peal of bells.
WORD ORIGINbell
Origin:
Old English belleEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Attach a bell to the cat's collar to warn birds.
- The bell sounded to end the fight.
- When you hear the bell, stop writing.
- A lemon, a bell and a cherry.
- Add tomatoes, bell pepper and spice mixture and cook 1 hour.
- It didn't ring any bells.
- Past Four Court dominant as church bells.
- Raise the heat slightly and add the bell peppers.
- She debated whether to sit down on the carpet for a while but shook herself and rang the bell.
- She was just about to make some coffee, when the front door bell rang.
- The guards and porters walked about, the bell was rung, the signal was given ad the train started off.
Longman Language Activatorto remember something with difficulty
if you vaguely remember something, you can remember it slightly but not all the details are clear: · She still vaguely remembered her father, a distant figure who was barely ever there.vaguely remember that: · I do vaguely remember, now that Kerry mentions it, that Pete was at the party.vaguely remember what/how/who etc: · Bob, who'd been a vet in the army, vaguely remembered how to use a tourniquet.vaguely remember doing something: · He vaguely remembered meeting her in a club the night of the concert.
to be able to remember that something happened but not be able to remember the details clearly, especially because you did not notice the details at the time: · I do sort of remember meeting him, but I have only a hazy recollection.have a hazy/vague recollection of: · Davis claims he has only a vague recollection of the rape.have a hazy/vague recollection of doing something: · The next day she had a hazy recollection of getting drunk and dancing in a fountain.
if a name or word is on the tip of your tongue , you usually know it but have difficulty remembering it at the present moment: · His name's on the tip of my tongue. I'll think of it in a minute.· What was that place where they'd had dinner? It was on the tip of her tongue.
if something, especially a name, rings a bell , you remember that you have seen or heard it before but you are now not sure of the details: · The name rings a bell, but I can't place it at the moment.ring a bell with: · "Gentle Ben's Brewing Company" will ring a bell with anyone who has lived in Arizona.
WORD SETSAC, accessory, nounadapter, nounaerosol, nounalarm, nounarm, nounash, nounattaché case, nounbag, nounbar, nounbarrel, nounbeep, verbbeeswax, nounbell, nounbelly, nounbelt, nounbench, nounbenzine, nounbinding, nounbiro, nounbolt, nounbooth, nounbox, nounbox, verbbrad, nounbriefcase, nounbristle, nounbrolly, nounbrush, nounbucket, nounbuckle, nounbuffer, nounbulb, nounBulldog clip, nounbulletin board, nounbullhorn, nounbung, nounbunting, nounbusiness card, nounbutt, nounbutton, nounbuzzer, nouncable, nouncalling card, nouncan, nouncandle, nouncane, nouncarbon, nouncarbon copy, nouncarbon paper, nouncard, nouncardboard, nouncardboard, adjectivecardboard cut-out, nouncard catalog, nouncarrier, nouncarrier bag, nouncarryall, nouncart, nouncarton, nouncartridge, nouncase, nouncaster, nouncatch, nounCellophane, nouncesspit, nounchain, nounchalice, nounchannel, nounchart, nounchute, nouncitronella, nounclamp, nouncleat, nounclip, nounclipboard, nouncomb, nouncombination lock, nouncompartment, nouncord, nouncrank, nouncrate, nouncrepe paper, nouncycle, noundetector, noundial, noundigital, adjectivedisposable, adjectivedrape, verbdrawing pin, noundryer, noundurable goods, nounDurex, nounearplug, nounelastic band, nouneraser, nouneyelet, nounfabric, nounfelt-tip pen, nounfemale, adjectivefence, nounfiberglass, nounfibreglass, nounfigurine, nounfilament, nounfile, verbFilofax, nounfire extinguisher, nounfirewood, nounfitness, nounflag, nounflagon, nounflagstaff, nounflashlight, nounflat, adjectivefloodlight, nounfoam, nounfoam, verbfog, verbfolder, nounfoolscap, nounforecourt, nounfountain, nounfountain pen, nounframe, nounfunnel, nounfuse, noungadget, noungadgetry, noungargle, verbgas, nounglue, noungoggles, noungold card, noungranny knot, noungravel, noungravelled, adjectivegravelly, adjectivegrease, noungreetings card, noungrommet, noungum, noungun, noungunnysack, noungut, nounhand-held, adjectivehandle, nounhandloom, nounharness, nounhasp, nounhealth, nounhessian, nounhinge, nounhip, nounhoarding, nounhoist, nounholder, nounhook, nounhoop, nounhooter, nounhose, nounhosepipe, nounhub, nounhygiene, nounhygienic, adjectiveillness, nounindented, adjectiveinflatable, adjectiveingrained, adjectiveink, nouninn, nouninnkeeper, nouninsoluble, adjectiveivory, nounjacket, nounjack-knife, nounjoss stick, nounjuggle, verbkey, nounkeypad, nounkey ring, nounKleenex, nounknife, nounknob, nounlabel, nounladder, nounlantern, nounlatch, nounlatchkey, nounlather, nounlather, verbLCD, nounlead, nounlectern, nounlegal pad, nounlens, nounletterbox, nounlever, nounlibrary, nounlid, nounlidded, adjectivelift, nounlight, nounlight bulb, nounlink, nounlinseed oil, nounlitter bin, nounlock, nounlodestone, nounlog, nounloop, verblost property, nounmagnet, nounmagnetic, adjectivemagnifying glass, nounmale, adjectivemantle, nounmanual, adjectivemarker, nounmarker pen, nounmarket day, nounmast, nounmastic, nounmatchstick, nounmaterial, nounmeter, nounmeths, nounmode, nounmortar, nounmortise lock, nounmould, nounmounting, nounmovement, nounnail, nounnameplate, nounnet, nounnib, nounnipple, nounnon-standard, adjectivenoose, nounnotebook, nounnotepad, nounnoticeboard, nounnozzle, nounnut, nounoil, verboilcan, nounoily, adjectiveorb, nounoutfit, nounoutlet, nounovernight, adverbpack, verbpackage, nounpad, nounpad, verbpadlock, nounpaintwork, nounpantyliner, nounpaper, nounpaperclip, nounpasserby, nounpaste, verbpasteboard, nounpatron, nounpatronage, nounpatronize, verbpattern, nounpaving, nounpearl, nounpen, nounpenknife, nounpicket fence, nounpillbox, nounpince-nez, nounpinhead, nounpipe, nounpix, nounpizza parlor, nounplug, nounpocket, nounpocketbook, nounpocket calculator, nounpocket knife, nounpointer, nounpoison, nounpole, nounportfolio, nounPost-it, nounpowder, nounpowdered, adjectivepropellant, nounpropelling pencil, nounpump-action, adjectivePX, nounquarter, verbrack, nounreceptionist, nounreel, nounrefill, nounreflector, nounrefrigerate, verbregimen, nounreservation, nounreserve, verbsachet, nounsack, nounscratchpad, nounscratch paper, nounscreen, nounsealant, nounsealer, nounsearchlight, nounseason ticket, nounseat, nounself-assembly, adjectiveseptic tank, nounservice, nounservice, verbsetting, nounshade, nounsharpener, nounshovel, nounshovel, verbshovelful, nounsilver paper, nounsiphon, nounslat, nounslice, verbslot machine, nounslug, nounsmoke, nounsoot, nounsort, nounspare part, nounspigot, nounsponge, nounspool, nounspout, nounspray, nounspray can, nounspray paint, nounspring, nounstaff, nounstake, nounstalk, nounstandard, nounstaple, nounstapler, nounstationery, nounsteam, nounsteam clean, verbsteel, nounsteel wool, nounstepladder, nounstick, verbstick, nounsticker, nounstilt, nounstopper, nounstorm lantern, nounstrap, nounstreamer, nounstring, nounstub, nounsucker, nounSuperglue, nounswipe, verbswitch, nounswivel, nountab, nountack, nountag, nountag, verbtank, nountap, nountape, nountassel, nountattle, verbtea break, nounthong, nounthread, nountime-saving, adjectivetinder, nountinderbox, nountissue, nountop, nountote bag, nountowel, verbtray, nountrolley, nountube, nountubing, nountwine, nountwo-way mirror, nounumbrella, nounvent, nounvial, nounwaiting room, nounwasher, nounwaste paper, nounwatch, nounwaterspout, nounwheeled, adjectivewhistle, verbwooden, adjectivewriting paper, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 2verbs A sudden peal of bells broke the silence. The bell tower was added to the church in 1848.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.
· He was ringing a big brass bell.
(=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.
· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.
(=it rings a certain number of times, in order to tell you the time of day)· The bells began to chime, calling people to church.
(=it slowly rings with a long low sound, when someone has died)· The church bell was tolling mournfully as the carriage entered the cemetery gate.
(=a small bell rings with a gentle high sound)· We were sleeping under the stars, camel bells tinkling in a cool breeze.
NOUN + bell· She woke on Sunday morning to the sound of church bells.
(=rung when people marry in a church)· Mark and Bridget seem very happy and we expect to hear wedding bells soon.
phrases (=the sound of bells being rung several times)· From the temple he could hear the peal of bells.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· I could hear the church bells ringing.
(=that you press to make it ring)· Adam walked up the path and rang the door bell.
A sudden peal of bells broke the silence. The bell tower was added to the church in 1848.· These harmonics have the sound of a very clear and distant bell.
· The building is surrounded by walls and the visitor enters through the great bell tower gateway.· Over the earth rests the vault of heaven like a hemispherical dome or great bell.· The great bells of the Immaculate Conception chimed the hour.· Also dispensed with was the sounding of the great bell after the victims had reached Tyburn and had been hanged.· The thing that interested him most, however, was the rope of the great alarm bell on the roof.· Again the great bell rang out.
· In 1970 about 900 million people were starving-perhaps a billion in total. Little wonder warning bells were sounding.· A little bitty tin bell, two, maybe three feet high.· Every hour on the hour there we were, slaves to that teleprinter machine and its little bell.· It smelled of perfume and breath and there were horrible little bells.· Down each arm, from shoulder to sleeve, gleamed those bloody little bells which tinkled every time he moved.· She went in out of the heat to piped-in music and little ringing bells.· He's got loads of interesting things like wooden masks and a big metal pipe for smoking and a little brass bell.
· Pimiento: Looks like a regular red bell pepper, but with a pointed base.· Usually more flavorful than red bell peppers, pimientos offer a hint of heat.· The rooms themselves were like those dusty red paper Christmas bells, folds within folds.· A sandwich of grilled chicken, red bell peppers and melted white cheddar on baguette is gilded with a garlic aioli.
· From the handle, no doubt for pushing it in the snow, hang some small, bronze bells.· He rang a small hand bell.· During a rite of exorcism, the officiating priest carries a small bell.· The property takes its name from a small Roman bell which is there to be seen.
NOUN· If the adviser wants you to make out a cheque to him, the alarm bells should start ringing.· Even so, alarm bells are beginning to sound at Westminster.· But now the alarm bells are ringing again.· A loud alarm bell rang out soundly and he awoke from a trance.· What is surprising is that alarm bells within the bank did not bring action earlier.· Some of these issues set off fewer alarm bells today and perhaps for most of us they are of less social concern.· As soon as a key was inserted it rang a loud alarm bell and palace guards would rush in with drawn swords.
· Some where the church bells rang in the distance, calling the faithful to evensong.· The air was filled with the tolling of church bells.· Past Four Court dominant as church bells.· Last night I heard church bells in the background.· It was as if a harvest festival were enacted daily, for throughout the hours of market the church bell tolled quietly.· The church bells were ringing, and the streets were filled with well-dressed people.· Of great interest are the church bells, very fine for a small village church.
· As she stood, wondering how to sort out the tangle, the door bell rang.· Suddenly the door bell rang and she blessed that she'd blissed the afternoon away.· She was just about to make some coffee, when the front door bell rang.· I must be brave for Perdita's sake, said Daisy through chattering teeth as she pressed the door bell.· There's your front door bell now.· At that moment the front door bell rang and Sophia went to answer it.· Six foot high and floodlit, they winked, mewed and yapped when the door bell was rung.· If the door bell goes, do you shuffle heavily along to answer it?
· Raise the heat slightly and add the bell peppers.· Pimiento: Looks like a regular red bell pepper, but with a pointed base.· Usually more flavorful than red bell peppers, pimientos offer a hint of heat.· Green bell peppers are not a substitute.· Fluff gently with a fork, add oil or cooking liquid, onion, bell peppers, tomato, and olives.· He adds the rest of the bell peppers and the jalapenos.· Stir in the onions, celery, bell pepper and garlic.· Greens Restaurant gave bell peppers and onions.
· On hearing a bell ring before the appearance of food the animals quickly came to associate that sound with feeding time.· Finally, the bell rings and kids burst joyfully out the door.· The bell rings and as I approach the front door I can see Mrs Marsh through the frosted glass.
· The bell ringers have made their celebrations heard.· And how could the bell ringer run undetected across the Tower to arrange Mowbray's fall?
· The building is surrounded by walls and the visitor enters through the great bell tower gateway.· We kissed, and every time the bell tower sounded, we listened attentively.· Hollola is a fine country church with decorative gables and detached, classical bell tower added in 1848.· Already heavily damaged by the September quakes, the Foligno bell tower lost more pieces Sunday during a series of quakes.· The bell tower dates from the eleventh-century and is the oldest in the Lombardy Romanesque style that still exists.· And then Madeleine ascends the mission bell tower.· Lombard influence shows chiefly in the bell towers.· In little villages it is often a white clapboard building with a hip roof and a bell tower.
· Would she ring the warning bell that cushioned the little fellow from the worst of it?· At that moment no warning bells sounded in his head.· Broomhead heard warning bells starting to ring in his head.· For a moment his attractiveness shone so powerfully that it almost sabotaged the warning bells sounding strident alarm inside Charity's head.· He was responding to her presence. Warning bells sounded in his head.· No warning bells chimed in this mere mortal mind.· There were no more sounds of men running, but his warning bells were ringing.· A warning bell sent off its small alarm inside Renwick's head.
· Talking about wedding bells, she was.· By then I was hearing wedding bells, and not only for Old Red and Margaret.· Myra has wedding bells ringing in her ears all day.
VERB· A ship that loses energy, a diving bell that gains it.
· And that is where we stayed together, until we heard the Compline bell.· Bea heard the cast iron bell fastened to the front door and went to see who it was.· By then I was hearing wedding bells, and not only for Old Red and Margaret.· Last night I heard church bells in the background.· Tug had forgotten what day it was until he heard the bells.· Perhaps nobody had heard the bell.· She heard distant bells ringing and the strange silence of the streets.· The window was open at the top and I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.
· As instructed, he got out and pressed a bell in the wall, and after a moment the gates opened.· He pressed the bell and waited, half hoping that it wouldn't ring or no one would come.· She reached for her packet of Soviet-made Marlboros, noticed the full ashtray and pressed a bell on her desk.· I found that out when I'd pressed the bell and no one came.· I must be brave for Perdita's sake, said Daisy through chattering teeth as she pressed the door bell.· Wycliffe pressed a bell push in a door with stained glass panels.· She had managed to press the bell with the end of her whip.
· He pulled on a metal bell handle and heard the bell jangle.· He lay in white sheets; soon he would pull the bell for Francoise to bring him his morning coffee.· Cranston pulled at the bell and they were allowed through a wicket gate built into the ponderous door.· So, the caller would pull the brass outer bell.· When he reached the door he pulled on the bell and waited.
· That telephone was sounding a warning bell.
· Little wonder warning bells were sounding.· If the defendant refuses to sign warning bells should ring.· If the engineer does not brake his train, a warning bell is set off, followed by an application of brakes.· That telephone was sounding a warning bell.· When he sees the ride begin to fill with customers, Brown rings a warning bell.· MEPs, who follow proceedings on closed-circuit television, are warned by a bell 10 minutes before voting takes place.· The problems experienced by Elveden Farms, near Thetford, Suffolk, this season should ring warning bells for all beet growers.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► hell’s bells► pull the other one (it’s got bells on)► (hear the sound of) wedding bells
1- As this player counts aloud from one to ten, the other children are given a bell.
- If not, maybe you could give Diana Russell a bell?
- Just give me a bell as to when and where you want him.
- Write to me at the address just inside the back cover or give me a bell on.
- At Police Headquarters alarm bells rang in from government munition dumps, military vehicle compounds, hi-tech weapon factories and sweet shops.
- Between them, in their flight from the mill, they'd set all the alarm bells ringing at the local sub-station.
- But alarm bells rang when Allison wrote back in December.
- Her flesh cried out to be closer, and, with the last vestiges of sanity, alarm bells rang.
- Maybe when they didn't phone home, the alarm bells rang.
- More precisely, one complaint from a parent actually appeared, but this was enough to set alarm bells ringing.
- Nor had any alarm bells rung about Thomas.
- "Gentle Ben's Brewing Company" will ring a bell with anyone who has lived in Arizona.
- Does the name Bill Buckner ring a bell?
- The name rings a bell, but I can't place it at the moment.
- At eight sharp the duty orderly rang a bell.
- But the name Woodall rings a bell.
- Does the name Se Ri Pak ring a bell?
- I knew it rang a bell somewhere.
- She went in out of the heat to piped-in music and little ringing bells.
- To readers of this column does the name Rosenstein ring a bell?
- At that moment no warning bells sounded in his head.
- Broomhead heard warning bells starting to ring in his head.
- If the defendant refuses to sign warning bells should ring.
- If the engineer does not brake his train, a warning bell is set off, followed by an application of brakes.
- Little wonder warning bells were sounding.
- That telephone was sounding a warning bell.
- When he sees the ride begin to fill with customers, Brown rings a warning bell.
- Would she ring the warning bell that cushioned the little fellow from the worst of it?
a piece of electrical equipment that makes a ringing sound, used as a signal or to get someone’s attentionring/press the bell He rang the bell and waited for someone to answer the door. She pressed the bell for the nurse.a bell rings/goes The bell went and everyone rushed out of the classroom.2a hollow metal object like a cup with a piece of metal hanging inside it, that makes a ringing noise when it moves or you shake it: church bells3give somebody a bell British English spoken to telephone someone: I must give Vicky a bell later.4something that is shaped like a bell: the bell of a flower → alarm bells ring at alarm1(5), → as clear as a bell at clear1(10), → ring a bell at ring2(4), → diving bell, doorbellCOLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2verbsa bell rings· I could hear the church bells ringing in the distance.ring a bell· He was ringing a big brass bell.a bell rings out (=it rings loudly)· The bells rang out to celebrate the end of the war.a bell sounds· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.a bell chimes (=it rings a certain number of times, in order to tell you the time of day)· The bells began to chime, calling people to church.a bell tolls (=it slowly rings with a long low sound, when someone has died)· The church bell was tolling mournfully as the carriage entered the cemetery gate.a bell tinkles (=a small bell rings with a gentle high sound)· We were sleeping under the stars, camel bells tinkling in a cool breeze.NOUN + bella church bell· She woke on Sunday morning to the sound of church bells.wedding bells (=rung when people marry in a church)· Mark and Bridget seem very happy and we expect to hear wedding bells soon.phrasesa peal of bells (=the sound of bells being rung several times)· From the temple he could hear the peal of bells.