I. ˈt(y)üb noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: French, from Latin tubus; akin to Latin tuba trumpet
1.
a. : a hollow elongated usually cylindrical body that is used especially to convey fluids and is mechanically nearly or precisely the same as a pipe but in use is arbitrarily associated with particular items and devices
a mélange of iron pipes and glass tubes
pipes leading to a boiler and continuous through valves with the tubes of the boiler proper
b.
(1) : a slender channel within a plant or animal body : duct — see bronchial tube , fallopian tube , pollen tube
(2) : the narrow basal portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx : the united part of a monadelphous androecium
(3) : a more or less cylindrical sometimes crooked or spirally twisted case secreted or constructed by many annelids, a few larval insects, and some other animals for protection or concealment
(4) : one of the siphons of a bivalve mollusk
2.
a. archaic : something (as a telescope) with a tube or tubular part as its chief feature
b. archaic : a cannon or other firearm
c. : tubular skate
3. : any of various usually cylindrical structures or devices felt to resemble or functioning in the manner of a tube: as
a. : the inner cylinder of a built-up gun usually extending from the inner face of the breechblock to the muzzle, carrying the rifling on its inner surface, and surrounded by the jacket and hoops if any are used ; also : the whole cylindrical piece of metal surrounding the bore
b.
(1) : an often complex piece of laboratory or technical apparatus usually of glass and commonly serving to isolate or convey a product of reaction
a distillation tube
— see fermentation tube
(2) : test tube
c. : a collapsible cylindrical metal container from which a paste is dispensed by squeezing
a toothpaste tube
d.
(1) : a tunnel for vehicular or rail traffic
(2) : a tunnel housing an aqueduct or other underground duct
(3) Britain : subway 1b
e. : a hollow cylindrical device (as a cannula) used for insertion into bodily passages or hollow organs for removal or injection of materials
f.
(1) archaic : pipe 6a
(2) : the basically cylindrical part connecting the mouthpiece and bell of a wind instrument
g. : a cylindrical core without flange or head on which yarn or thread may be wound
h. : a woman's narrow fitted garment (as a skirt or dress)
4. : inner tube
5. : electron tube
6. : vacuum tube
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to furnish with, enclose in, or pass through a tube
tube a well
tube media in bacteriology
also : to form into or wind on a tube
tube yarn
intransitive verb
chiefly Britain : to go by subway
III. noun
or down the tubes
1.
a. : cathode-ray tube ; especially : a television picture tube
b. : television
2. : curl herein
3. : an article of clothing usually of knitted material in the shape of a tube
tube top
tube socks
•
- down the tube