Definition

1. Noun:

   • A hollow, typically cylindrical, conduit: A long, hollow object, usually round in cross-section, used to hold, convey, or conduct liquids, gases, or other substances.
   • A cylindrical container: A flexible, cylindrical container, often made of metal or plastic, with a cap, used for holding a soft, viscous substance (e.g., toothpaste, paint).
   • An electronic device: (Also called a vacuum tube or thermionic valve) An electronic component consisting of a sealed glass or metal envelope containing electrodes, historically used in electronics for amplification, rectification, and switching.
   • A subway system: (Capitalized as the Tube) The underground railway system in London.
   • (Anatomy/Biology) A hollow cylindrical structure: Any tubular anatomical structure or part, such as a blood vessel or a fallopian tube.
   • A television set: (Informal, dated) A television receiver.

2. Verb:

   • To convey or enclose in a tube: To place something inside a tube for protection or transport.
   • To ride on an inflated tube: To float, especially for recreation, on a large inflatable rubber tube (e.g., on water or snow).
   • To fit or provide with a tube: To equip something with a tube or tubular lining.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Water flows through the irrigation tube.
  • She squeezed the last bit of paint from the tube.
  • Old radios were built with vacuum tubes.
  • We took the Tube to get across London quickly.
  • The doctor examined the patient's bronchial tubes.

• Verb:

  • The factory tubes the glue before shipping.
  • In the summer, we love to tube down the river.
  • The mechanic tubed the new tire.

Advanced Usage

• "To go down the tubes" (idiom, informal): To fail, deteriorate, or be ruined.
  • After the scandal, his reputation went down the tubes.
• "Tube it" (verb phrase, informal): To travel by the London Underground.
  • It's faster to tube it than to drive during rush hour.

Variants and Related Words

• Tubing (n): Material in the form of a tube; the activity of riding on an inflatable tube.
  • Plastic tubing is used in laboratories.
  • We went tubing on the lake.
• Tubular (adj): Having the shape or form of a tube; (slang) excellent, cool.
  • The plant has a tubular stem.
  • That surfboard is totally tubular!
• Tubeless (adj): (Of a tire) not requiring an inner tube.

Synonyms

• Noun (conduit): Pipe, cylinder, hose, duct.
• Noun (container): Canister, container.
• Noun (subway): Underground, metro, subway.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Tube in: To introduce or feed something through a tube.
  • The patient was tubed in for nutrients.

Related Idioms

• "Boob tube" (n, informal, dated): A television set.
  • He spent all weekend in front of the boob tube.

Noun

1. an electric railway operating below the surface of the ground (usually in a city)
   • in Paris the subway system is called the `metro' and in London it is called the `tube' or the `underground'
2. (anatomy) any hollow cylindrical body structure
3. a hollow cylindrical shape
4. electronic device consisting of a system of electrodes arranged in an evacuated glass or metal envelope
5. conduit consisting of a long hollow object (usually cylindrical) used to hold and conduct objects or liquids or gases

Verb

1. place or enclose in a tube
2. ride or float on an inflated tube
   • We tubed down the river on a hot summer day
3. convey in a tube
   • inside Paris, they used to tube mail
4. provide with a tube or insert a tube into