1. a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck
2. a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed
3. the sound of a bell being struck;
"saved by the bell"
"she heard the distant toll of church bells"
4. (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.
5. the shape of a bell
6. a percussion instrument consisting of vertical metal tubes of different lengths that are struck with a hammer