n.
Pronunciation: ' tüb, ' tyüb
Function: noun
Etymology: French, from Latin tubus; akin to Latin tuba trumpet
Date: 1651
1 : any of various usually cylindrical structures or devices: as a : a hollow elongated cylinder especially : one to convey fluids b : a soft tubular container whose contents (as toothpaste) can be removed by squeezing c (1) : TUNNEL (2) British : SUBWAY B d : the basically cylindrical section between the mouthpiece and bell that is the fundamental part of a wind instrument
2 a : a slender channel (as a fallopian tube or a pollen tube) within a plant or animal body : DUCT b : the narrow basal portion of a corolla with united petals or a calyx with united sepals
3 : INNER TUBE
4 a : ELECTRON TUBE especially : VACUUM TUBE b : CATHODE-RAY TUBE especially : a television picture tube c : TELEVISION
5 : an article of clothing shaped like a tube <a tube top> < tube socks>
– tubed \ ' tübd, ' tyübd \ adjective
– tube · like \ ' tüb- ˌ l ī k, ' tyüb- \ adjective
– down the tube or down the tubes : into a state of collapse or deterioration