Meaning & Definition
noun
A cylindrical container or conduit used for holding or transporting substances.
She bought a tube of toothpaste from the store.
A long, hollow object, typically made of plastic or metal, which can be used for various purposes, including as a pipe.
The plumber used a tube to connect the two water faucets.
An underground or elevated train system, commonly known as the subway.
He took the tube to work every day.
A part of a plant or flower that is shaped like a hollow cylinder.
The honeybee is attracted to the tube-shaped flowers for nectar.
verb
To place an object into a tube or to make something tube-shaped.
They decided to tube the samples for easier transport.
Etymology
Late Middle English: from Latin 'tubus', from Greek 'toubos'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
the tube:
Refers to the underground railway system in London.
in a tube:
Describes something packaged in a cylindrical container.
tube of toothpaste:
A common container used for storing toothpaste.
Slang Meanings
A slang term for a video sharing platform, particularly YouTube.
I watched that funny video on the tube.
In some contexts, refers to the act of using a tube to ingest drugs.
He was caught in the bathroom using the tube.