What does bell mean?
A bell is a hollow, resonant object—most often made of bronze or other metal—that produces a clear, carrying tone when struck by an internal clapper or an external hammer. Bells have served humanity for thousands of years as instruments of communication, marking time, summoning people to worship, sounding alarms, and announcing events of public importance. The word also extends beyond the physical instrument: a 'diving bell' is a chamber lowered underwater, certain flowers are described as bell-shaped, and phrases like 'ring a bell' (to seem faintly familiar) and 'saved by the bell' have entered everyday speech. In statistics, the 'bell curve' describes the normal distribution of data. Few objects are so deeply woven into human ritual, language, and imagination as the simple bell.
A hollow, typically cup-shaped metal instrument that emits a ringing tone when struck, or the sound itself; also any bell-shaped object.
"The school bell signaled the end of class."
Widely used both literally and figuratively across registers.
To fit a bell to an animal, especially to hang a bell around the neck of a cat or cow; chiefly used in the idiom 'to bell the cat'.
"Someone finally had to bell the cat and confront the manager about the pay cuts."
Rare outside the fixed phrase 'bell the cat', which means to take on a dangerous task for the common good.
Standard regular plural.
"The cathedral's bells rang in the new year."
Bells were once rung at funerals partly to prove the person inside was truly dead — which is how the phrase 'saved by the bell' earned its eerie edge.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bell
The word 'bell' comes from the Old English 'belle', which has cognates in other Germanic languages such as Middle Dutch 'belle'. Its ultimate origin is uncertain, though it may derive from a Germanic verb meaning 'to roar or make a loud sound'. The word has been used for ringing instruments throughout the history of English, and its figurative extensions are largely later developments.
Related word forms
How bell is actually used
Common in both formal and informal registers. As a verb, 'to bell' survives mainly in the idiom 'to bell the cat', meaning to undertake a risky task on behalf of others.
Easily confused with bell
A 'bell' is a ringing metal instrument, while a 'belle' is a beautiful woman, especially one who is the most admired at a social gathering.