a hollow instrument of cast metal, typically cup-shaped with a flaring mouth, suspended from the vertex and rung by the strokes of a clapper, hammer, or the like.

the stroke or sound of such an instrument

We rose at the bell.

anything in the form of a bell.

the large end of a funnel, or the end of a pipe, tube, or any musical wind instrument, when its edge is turned out and enlarged.

Architecture . the underlying part of a foliated capital.

Nautical .

any of the half-hour units of nautical time rung on the bell of a ship.

each individual ring of the bell, counted with others to reckon the time

It is now four bells.

a signal on the telegraph of a large power vessel, made between the navigating officers and the engineer.

Zoology . umbrella ( def. 2 ) .

Botany . the bell-shaped corolla of a flower.

Metallurgy . a conical lid that seals the top of a blast furnace and lowers to admit a charge.

to cause to swell or expand like a bell (often fol. by out )

Belling out the tubes will permit a freer passage of air.

to put a bell on.

to take or have the form of a bell.

Botany . to produce bells; be in bell (said of hops when the seed vessels are forming). ?

bell the cat. cat 1 ( def. 15 ) .

ring a bell, to evoke a memory

esp. a vague or partial recollection; remind one of something

His name rings a bell but I can't remember him.

ring the bell

to provide what is desired; be satisfactory or successful

This new book rings the bell with teenagers.

saved by the bell

(of a boxer) saved from a knockout by the ringing of a gong signaling the end of a round.

(of any person) spared from anticipated trouble by some extraneous event.

with bells on

Informal . eagerly; ready to enjoy oneself

Just say when, and we'll be there with bells on.

noun

alarm , buzz , buzzer , carillon , chime , clapper , curfew , ding-dong , dinger , gong , peal , ringer , siren , tintinnabulum , tocsin , toll , vesper , angelus , beautiful , belfry , bellow , blossom , call , campana , campanile , campanology , church bell , corolla , cow , flare , knell , ring , roar , school bell , swell , tintinnabulation , tolling