tube
tube
UK[tjuːb]US[tuːb]
n
A long, hollow cylinder used to hold or carry liquids or gases.
n
A soft, squeezable container with a cap, used for substances like toothpaste or glue.
n
The underground railway system in London.
Etymology
The word 'tube' entered English in the mid-17th century, borrowed directly from the Latin word 'tubus', meaning a pipe or a trumpet. The Latin term is likely derived from the Proto-Indo-European root tūb- or teuə-, which carried meanings related to swelling or being hollow, a concept also connected to words like 'tumor' and 'thigh'. The semantic logic evolved from the general idea of a hollow, cylindrical object to its specific modern applications, such as a container, a conduit, and the London Underground railway, which was named for its tubular tunnels.
Analysis
The word 'tube' is a simplex loanword from Latin. It does not contain separable morphemes in its modern English spelling.
Examples
The artist squeezed paint directly from the tube onto the palette.
A narrow tube connects the oxygen tank to the mask.
She takes the Tube to work every morning to avoid traffic.