bɛl ˈbʌzə ˈbʌzəɹ ˈdɔː.bɛl ˈdɔɹ.bɛl attach a bell to bell cows a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck the flared opening of a tubular device a percussion instrument consisting of a set of tuned bells that are struck with a hammer; used as an orchestral instrument a push button at an outer door that gives a ringing or buzzing signal when pushed the sound of a bell being struck saved by the bell she heard the distant toll of church bells the shape of a bell (nautical) each of the eight half-hour units of nautical time signaled by strokes of a ship's bell; eight bells signals 4:00, 8:00, or 12:00 o'clock, either a.m. or p.m.