(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is a device that makes a ringing sound and is used to give a signal or to attract people’s attention.
I’ve been ringing the door ~, there’s no answer.
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ is a hollow metal object shaped like a cup which has a piece hanging inside it that hits the sides and makes a sound.
My brother, Neville, was born on a Sunday, when all the church ~s were ringing.
N-COUNT
3.
If something is as clear as a ~, it is very clear indeed.
There are 80 of these pictures and they’re all as clear as a ~.
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR
4.
If you say that something rings a ~, you mean that it reminds you of something, but you cannot remember exactly what it is. (INFORMAL)
The description of one of the lads is definitely familiar. It rings a ~.
PHRASE: V inflects