bell ◆◇◇ /be l/ (bells )
1 N‑COUNT A bell 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 bell, there's no answer.
2 N‑COUNT A bell is a hollow metal object shaped like a cup which has a piece hanging inside it that hits the sides and makes a sound. □ Church bells tolled yesterday in remembrance of the five girls who were killed.
3 PHRASE If something is as clear as a bell , it is very clear indeed. □ There are 80 of these pictures and they're all as clear as a bell.
4 PHRASE If you say that something rings a bell , 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 bell.
be ll-bottoms The form bell-bottom is used as a modifier. N‑PLURAL [oft N n] Bell-bottoms are trousers that are very wide at the bottom of the leg, near your feet. □ Flares, loons and bell-bottoms are back. □ …bell-bottom trousers.
bell|boy /be lbɔ I / (bellboys ) N‑COUNT A bellboy is a man or boy who works in a hotel, carrying bags or bringing things to the guests' rooms. [mainly AM ]
belle /be l/ (belles ) N‑COUNT A belle is a beautiful woman, especially the most beautiful woman at a party or in a group. [OLD-FASHIONED ]
bel|li|cose /be l I koʊs, -koʊz/ ADJ You use bellicose to refer to aggressive actions or behaviour that are likely to start an argument or a fight. [LITERARY ] □ He expressed alarm about the government's increasingly bellicose statements.
-bellied /-belid/
1 COMB -bellied can be added to an adjective to describe someone or something that has a stomach of a particular kind. □ The fat-bellied officer stood near the door. □ …the yellow-bellied sea-snake.
2 → see also pot-bellied
bel|lig|er|ent /b I l I dʒərənt/ ADJ A belligerent person is hostile and aggressive. □ He was almost back to his belligerent mood of twelve months ago. ● bel|lig|er|ent|ly ADV □ 'Why not?' he asked belligerently. ● bel|lig|er|ence N‑UNCOUNT □ He could be accused of passion, but never belligerence.
bel|low /be loʊ/ (bellows , bellowing , bellowed )
1 VERB If someone bellows , they shout angrily in a loud, deep voice. □ [V with quote] 'I didn't ask to be born!' she bellowed. □ [V + at ] She prayed she wouldn't come in and find them there, bellowing at each other. □ [V n prep] He bellowed information into the mouthpiece of the phone. [Also V ] ● N‑COUNT Bellow is also a noun. □ [+ of ] I was distraught and let out a bellow of tearful rage.
2 VERB When a large animal such as a bull or an elephant bellows , it makes a loud and deep noise. □ [V ] A heifer bellowed in her stall.
3 N‑COUNT [oft a pair of N ] A bellows is or bellows are a device used for blowing air into a fire in order to make it burn more fiercely.
be ll pep|per (bell peppers ) N‑COUNT A bell pepper is a hollow green, red, or yellow vegetable with seeds. [mainly AM ] in BRIT, usually use pepper
be ll ring|er (bell ringers ) also bell-ringer N‑COUNT A bell ringer is someone who rings church bells or hand bells, especially as a hobby.
bell|wether /be lweðə r / (bellwethers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, oft N n] If you describe something as a bellwether , you mean that it is an indication of the way a situation is changing. [mainly AM , JOURNALISM ] □ For decades the company was the bellwether of the British economy. □ IBM is considered the bellwether stock on Wall Street.
bel|ly /be li/ (bellies )
1 N‑COUNT [with poss] The belly of a person or animal is their stomach or abdomen. In British English, this is an informal or literary use. □ She laid her hands on her swollen belly. □ You'll eat so much your belly'll be like a barrel.
2 → see also beer belly , pot belly
3 PHRASE If a company goes belly up , it does not have enough money to pay its debts. [INFORMAL ] □ I really can't afford to see this company go belly up.
belly|ache /be lie I k/ (bellyaches , bellyaching , bellyached ) also belly-ache
1 N‑VAR Bellyache is a pain inside your abdomen, especially in your stomach. [INFORMAL ]
2 VERB [usu cont] If you say that someone is bellyaching , you mean they complain loudly and frequently about something and you think this is unreasonable or unjustified. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + about ] …belly-aching about recession. [Also V ]
be l|ly but|ton (belly buttons ) N‑COUNT Your belly button is the small round thing in the centre of your stomach. [INFORMAL ]
be l|ly danc|er (belly dancers ) also belly-dancer N‑COUNT A belly dancer is a woman who performs a Middle Eastern dance in which she moves her hips and abdomen about.
be l|ly laugh (belly laughs ) also belly-laugh N‑COUNT A belly laugh is a very loud, deep laugh. □ Each gag was rewarded with a generous belly-laugh.
be|long ◆◇◇ /b I lɒ ŋ, [AM ] -lɔː ŋ/ (belongs , belonging , belonged )
1 VERB [no cont] If something belongs to you, you own it. □ [V + to ] The house had belonged to her family for three or four generations.