tube´like´

tube «toob, tyoob», noun, verb, tubed, tub|ing.

–n.

1. a long pipe of metal, glass, rubber, plastic, or other material. Tubes are used especially to carry or contain a liquid or gas.

2. a small cylinder of thin, easily bent metal with a cap that screws on the open end, used for holding toothpaste, shaving cream, paint, or some similar material.

3. = inner tube. (Cf. ↑inner tube)

4. a pipe or tunnel through which something is sent, especially by means of compressed air.

5. a railroad tunnel, especially one bored through rock or under a body of water: »

the Hudson tubes.

6. Especially British Informal. a subway.

7. anything like a tube, especially any one of certain tubular or cylindrical animal organs: »

the bronchial tubes.

8. an electron or vacuum tube.

9. Botany. the lower united portion of a gamopetalous corolla or a gamosepalous calyx.

10. Physics. tube of force.

11. Informal. television.

–v.t.

1. to furnish or fit with a tube or tubes; insert a tube in.

2. to pass through or enclose in a tube.

3. to make tubular.

╂[< Latin tubus tube, pipe]

–tube´like´, adjective.