tubes
tubes — noun
- tubessingular
- tubesesplural
1. A hollow cylindrical item made from materials such as metal, plastic, or glass,
A hollow cylindrical item made from materials such as metal, plastic, or glass, with both ends open, through which liquids or gases can flow or be kept.
The plumber replaced a rusty metal tube under the kitchen sink.
countable: a [material] tube
Water flows through a narrow glass tube in the science experiment.
preposition: through a tube
Oxygen is supplied to hospital patients through a soft plastic tube connected to a mask.
A rubber tube carries petrol from the tank to the engine in a car.
The scientist wore safety goggles while heating the glass tube over the Bunsen burner.
文法句型
a tube / tubes
常見錯誤
2. A hollow, pipe-shaped channel within a living organism — for example, the passag
A hollow, pipe-shaped channel within a living organism — for example, the passages that bring air into the lungs or the structures that move eggs from the ovaries.
The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus.
compound noun: fallopian tubes / bronchial tubes
Doctor Chen found a blockage in one of the patient's bronchial tubes.
In plants, tiny tubes called xylem carry water from the roots up to the leaves.
A blockage in her eustachian tubes made it hard for Fatima to hear clearly.
文法句型
the [body part] tubes
用法筆記
Often used as part of a compound noun: fallopian tubes, bronchial tubes, eustachian tubes, pollen tubes. In everyday conversation, people usually refer to specific body tubes by their medical name rather than saying 'tube' alone.
常見錯誤
3. A soft, narrow container made of metal or plastic, with one end sealed shut and
A soft, narrow container made of metal or plastic, with one end sealed shut and the other end fitted with a cap, that you press to push out a thick substance like toothpaste, hand cream, or paint.
Emma squeezed the last bit of toothpaste out of the tube.
squeeze + out of + the tube
The art student bought a tube of bright red oil paint for her final project.
a tube of [substance]
You can find tubes of sunscreen near the checkout counter at the pharmacy.
Chen always rolls the toothpaste tube from the bottom to use every bit.
文法句型
a tube of [product]
用法筆記
Used with 'of' followed by the substance inside: a tube of toothpaste, a tube of glue, a tube of hand cream. The cap is called a 'lid' or 'cap'.
常見錯誤
4. The underground railway system in London, England. It is one of the oldest and l
The underground railway system in London, England. It is one of the oldest and largest subway networks in the world.
Sofia takes the Tube from King's Cross to Oxford Circus every morning.
take + the Tube = use the London Underground
The Tube is the quickest way to get across central London during rush hour.
Tourists often buy an Oyster card to travel on the Tube for a cheaper fare.
The Tube map shows all the different lines with a different colour for each one.
- the London Underground
the official name; slightly more formal than 'the Tube'
- the subway
American English equivalent; not used for London's system
文法句型
the Tube
用法筆記
Always written with a capital T: 'the Tube'. Unlike other senses, this sense is typically singular. Other cities have their own subway systems, but 'the Tube' specifically refers to London's network. In other British cities, locals say 'the metro' (Newcastle) or 'the underground' (Glasgow).
常見錯誤
5. (informal) The television, considered as a medium or a device. Often used in the
(informal) The television, considered as a medium or a device. Often used in the phrases 'the tube' or 'on the tube'.
The kids spent the whole rainy afternoon watching cartoons on the tube.
on the tube = on TV
There's nothing good on the tube tonight, so let's go to the cinema instead.
nothing good on the tube
Grandpa still calls the television 'the tube', even though his set is a flat screen.
Amir prefers watching films on his laptop instead of turning on the tube.
- television
the neutral, standard term
- TV
the common abbreviation; neutral register
- the box
British informal, similar register to 'the tube'
文法句型
the tube
on the tube
用法筆記
An older slang term that originated from the cathode-ray tube used in old television sets. It is still widely understood but sounds slightly old-fashioned to younger speakers. 'Boob tube' is a more humorous, dated variant.
6. (British informal) A beer container — either a can or a bottle.
(British informal) A beer container — either a can or a bottle.
After work, Oliver opened a cold tube and sat down in the garden.
British slang: a tube = a can of beer
'Fancy a tube?' Jack asked, pulling two cans from the fridge.
Diego grabbed three cold tubes from the cooler for the barbecue.
These tubes are on special offer, said the shopkeeper, pointing to the beer display.
文法句型
a tube
用法筆記
Only used in informal British English. Not appropriate in formal writing or conversation. 'Tube' here can refer to either a can or a bottle — the container shape is the shared feature.
7. A sealed glass or metal device with electrodes inside, used in older electronic
A sealed glass or metal device with electrodes inside, used in older electronic equipment to control the flow of electrical current. In modern use, the word 'valve' (British) or 'vacuum tube' is more common.
Old radio sets contained glass tubes that glowed orange when the device was turned on.
glass tubes in old radios
Guitar amplifiers that use tubes are still preferred by some musicians for their warm sound.
tubes in guitar amplifiers
Technicians replaced all the burned-out tubes in the vintage television set.
The engineer pulled out the old tubes from the amplifier and tested each one.
- valve
the common British English term for the same device
- vacuum tube
the standard modern term, used especially in the US
- electron tube
the formal technical name
文法句型
a tube / tubes
用法筆記
This meaning is now dated and mainly used in historical or specialist contexts. In the UK, the term 'valve' is more common; in the US, 'vacuum tube' or 'electron tube' is preferred. Modern electronics use transistors and microchips instead of tubes.