electric bell
- noun
- /ɪˈlɛktrɪk bɛl/
:
timbre eléctrico
- An electric bell rang, and the queue charged from the room.
Examples
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When the teacher pressed the button, the electric bell rang to signal the beginning of recess.
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At the front of the house, an electric bell announced visitors with a distinct chime.
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As soon as the electric bell announced the end of the shift, Bin left the plant.
Fiction book (2000) -
The inversion is complete, for the New Cathedral has the old bells, and the Old Cathedral is now equipped with electric bells, a sign of technological advancement.
Academic text (2003) -
The electric bell rang loudly each time a customer entered the store, alerting the staff to their arrival.
Synonyms
144
1.0
A button by the front door that rings when someone presses it to tell you a visitor is there
A small electric bell that rings to tell someone about an incoming phone call
How Loud
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'electric' (relating to electrical power) + 'bell' (a ringing object): an electric bell is simply a bell that rings by electricity. This is a straightforward, cross-linguistically common modifier+noun combination, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Electric bell is a simple name: it's a bell that rings because of electric power, so when you press a button the electricity moves a small metal arm to hit the bell. So, the term means 'a bell that rings when electricity is used'.