tube

[ toob, tyoob ]

/ tub, tyub /

noun

a hollow, usually cylindrical body of metal, glass, rubber, or other material, used especially for conveying or containing liquids or gases.

a small, collapsible, cylinder of metal or plastic sealed at one end and having a capped opening at the other from which paint, toothpaste, or some other semifluid substance may be squeezed.

Anatomy, Zoology. any hollow, cylindrical vessel or organ: the bronchial tubes.

Botany.

any hollow, elongated body or part.
the united lower portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx.

inner tube.

Electronics. electron tube.

Informal.

television.
a television set.

mailing tube.

the tubular tunnel in which an underground railroad runs.

the railroad itself.

Surfing Slang. the curled hollow formed on the underside of a cresting wave.

British. subway(def 1).

Australian Slang. a can of beer.

Older Slang. a telescope.

verb (used with object), tubed, tub·ing.

to furnish with a tube or tubes.

to convey or enclose in a tube.

to form into the shape of a tube; make tubular.

Idioms for tube

down the tube/tubes, Informal. into a ruined, wasted, or abandoned state or condition.

Origin of tube

First recorded in 1590–1600, tube is from the Latin word tubus pipe

OTHER WORDS FROM tube

tube·less, adjective tube·like, adjective mul·ti·tube, adjective

Words nearby tube

tubal ligation, tubal pregnancy, tubal-cain, tubate, tubby, tube, tube cell, tube fly, tube foot, tube pan, tube railway

British Dictionary definitions for down the tubes

tube

/ (tjuːb) /

noun

a long hollow and typically cylindrical object, used for the passage of fluids or as a container

a collapsible cylindrical container of soft metal or plastic closed with a cap, used to hold viscous liquids or pastes

anatomy

short for Eustachian tube, Fallopian tube
any hollow cylindrical structure

botany

the lower part of a gamopetalous corolla or gamosepalous calyx, below the lobes
any other hollow structure in a plant

the tube British

Also called: the underground an underground railway systemUS and Canadian equivalent: subway
the tunnels through which the railway runs
the train itself
(capital) trademark the London underground railway system

electronics

another name for valve (def. 3)
See electron tube, cathode-ray tube, television tube

the tube slang a television set

British slang a stupid or despicable person

Australian slang a bottle or can of beer

surfing the cylindrical passage formed when a wave breaks and the crest tips forward

an archaic word for telescope

verb (tr)

to fit or supply with a tube or tubes

to carry or convey in a tube

to shape like a tube

Derived forms of tube

tubeless, adjective tube-like, adjective

Word Origin for tube

C17: from Latin tubus

Medical definitions for down the tubes

tube

[ tōōb ]

n.

A hollow cylinder, especially one that conveys a fluid or functions as a passage.

An anatomical structure or organ having the shape or function of a tube; a duct.

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (1 of 2)

down the tubes

Also, down the tube. Into a state of failure or ruin, as in If he failed the test, his chances went down the tubes. ] Colloquial; 1960s] Also see down the drain.

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (2 of 2)

tube

see down the tubes.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tube

noun

verb (used with object), tubed, tub·ing.

Idioms for tube

Origin of tube

OTHER WORDS FROM tube

Words nearby tube

British Dictionary definitions for down the tubes

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of tube

Word Origin for tube

Medical definitions for down the tubes

n.

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tube

noun

verb (used with object), tubed, tub·ing.

Idioms for tube

Origin of tube

OTHER WORDS FROM tube

Words nearby tube

Words related to down the tubes

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for down the tubes

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of tube

Word Origin for tube

Medical definitions for down the tubes

n.

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with down the tubes (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for down the tubes