bell 
/ˈbɛl/ noun
plural bells /ˈbɛl/ noun [count] 1 : a hollow usually cup-shaped metal object that makes a ringing sound when it is hit
▪ ring/sound/toll a bell ▪ We heard the church bells ringing. ▪ The school bell clanged. ▪ a dinner bell [=a bell that is rung to call people to dinner] ▪ The round ended when the bell sounded. ▪ the Liberty Bell [=a large bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is a traditional symbol of U.S. freedom] — see also bells and whistles 2 : an electronic device that makes a ringing sound
▪ We rang the bell [=doorbell] twice, but no one came to answer the door. ▪ Warning/alarm bells went off. = Warning/alarm bells started to sound/ring. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ (Warning/alarm) bells went off (in my head) as I read her letter. [=there was something in her letter that alarmed me] 3 : something (such as a flower) that is shaped like a bell
▪ ring/sound/toll a bell ▪ We heard the church bells ringing. ▪ The school bell clanged. ▪ a dinner bell [=a bell that is rung to call people to dinner] ▪ The round ended when the bell sounded. ▪ the Liberty Bell [=a large bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that is a traditional symbol of U.S. freedom] — see also bells and whistles
▪ We rang the bell [=doorbell] twice, but no one came to answer the door. ▪ Warning/alarm bells went off. = Warning/alarm bells started to sound/ring. — sometimes used figuratively ▪ (Warning/alarm) bells went off (in my head) as I read her letter. [=there was something in her letter that alarmed me]
(as) clear as a bell — see 1clear
(as) sound as a bell — see 3sound
give (someone) a bell
Brit, informal : to call someone on the telephone
▪ I'll give you a bell [=give you a call] tomorrow.
▪ I'll give you a bell [=give you a call] tomorrow.
have/get your bell rung
◊In informal U.S. and Canadian English, if you have/get your bell rung, you get hit hard on the head.
▪ The hockey/football player had his bell rung during the play.
▪ The hockey/football player had his bell rung during the play.
ring a bell — see 3ring
