tube
Americannoun
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a hollow, usually cylindrical body of metal, glass, rubber, or other material, used especially for conveying or containing liquids or gases.
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a small, collapsible, cylinder of metal or plastic sealed at one end and having a capped opening at the other from which paint, toothpaste, or some other semifluid substance may be squeezed.
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Anatomy, Zoology. any hollow, cylindrical vessel or organ.
the bronchial tubes.
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Botany.
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any hollow, elongated body or part.
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the united lower portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx.
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Electronics. electron tube.
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Informal.
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a television set.
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the tubular tunnel in which an underground railroad runs.
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the railroad itself.
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Surfing Slang. the curled hollow formed on the underside of a cresting wave.
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British. subway.
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Australian Slang. a can of beer.
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Older Slang. a telescope.
verb (used with object)
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to furnish with a tube or tubes.
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to convey or enclose in a tube.
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to form into the shape of a tube; make tubular.
idioms
noun
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a long hollow and typically cylindrical object, used for the passage of fluids or as a container
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a collapsible cylindrical container of soft metal or plastic closed with a cap, used to hold viscous liquids or pastes
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anatomy
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short for Eustachian tube Fallopian tube
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any hollow cylindrical structure
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botany
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the lower part of a gamopetalous corolla or gamosepalous calyx, below the lobes
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any other hollow structure in a plant
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US and Canadian equivalent: subway. Also called: the underground. an underground railway system
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the tunnels through which the railway runs
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the train itself
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(capital) the London underground railway system
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electronics
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another name for valve
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slang a television set
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slang a stupid or despicable person
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slang a bottle or can of beer
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surfing the cylindrical passage formed when a wave breaks and the crest tips forward
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an archaic word for telescope
verb
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to fit or supply with a tube or tubes
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to carry or convey in a tube
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to shape like a tube
Other Word Forms
- multitube adjective
- tube-like adjective
- tubeless adjective
- tubelike adjective
Etymology
Origin of tube
First recorded in 1590–1600, tube is from the Latin word tubus pipe
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He has to travel across London, and the job has given him the confidence to take the tube on his own for the first time.
From BBC
The team sealed E. coli bacteria inside test tubes filled with pure water ice.
From Science Daily
“I used this telescope,” she said, flying over to the ship’s bow and perching upon a long brass tube mounted on a tripod.
From Literature
That is prompting shoppers to delay restocking their pantries and pass on buying extra tubes of toothpaste when they see a promotion.
A tube of lipstick tossed onto a scatter of counter clutter.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
