n. & v.
--n.
1. a long hollow rigid or flexible cylinder, esp. for holding or carrying air, liquids, etc.
2 a soft metal or plastic cylinder sealed at one end and having a screw cap at the other, for holding a semi-liquid substance ready for use (a tube of toothpaste).
3 Anat. & Zool. a hollow cylindrical organ in the body (bronchial tubes; Fallopian tubes).
4 (often prec. by the) colloq. the London underground railway system (went by tube).
5 a a cathode-ray tube esp. in a television set. b (prec. by the) esp. US colloq. television.
6 US a thermionic valve.
7 inner tube.
8 the cylindrical body of a wind instrument.
9 Austral. sl. a can of beer.
--v.tr.
1. equip with tubes.
2 enclose in a tube.
Derivatives:
tubeless adj. (esp. in sense 7 of n.). tubelike adj.
Etymology: F tube or L tubus