Tubes: meaning, definitions and examples

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tubes

 

[ tjuหbz ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

medical equipment

Tubes are hollow cylinders made of metal, plastic, or rubber, typically used for transporting fluids or gases within the body or between different containers.

Synonyms

ducts, hoses, pipes.

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Word Description / Examples
tubes

Refers to cylindrical objects, often used in everyday items like toothpaste tubes or test tubes in a lab. These are typically small and can be made from various materials such as plastic or glass.

  • She squeezed some toothpaste out of the tube
  • ; The scientist carefully measured the liquid in the test tube
pipes

Rigid cylindrical objects used to transport liquids or gases over long distances. Commonly seen in plumbing or gas systems, usually made of metal or plastic.

  • The plumber replaced the old pipes with new ones
  • ; Gas is transported to homes through underground pipes
ducts

Used in technical or industrial contexts, often referring to conduits for air, cables, or fluids within a building or machinery, usually made of metal or plastic.

  • The air conditioning unit is connected to the ventilation ducts
  • ; The electrical cables run through ducts in the walls
hoses

Often used for flexible tubes that transport water or other fluids. Commonly used in gardening, firefighting, and various industrial activities. Typically made of rubber or PVC.

  • He watered the garden using a hose
  • ; The firefighters unrolled the hose to put out the blaze

Examples of usage

  • The doctor inserted a tube into the patient's throat to help him breathe.
  • The test tube contained the blood sample for analysis.
Context #2 | Noun

internet slang

In internet slang, 'tubes' refers to the network of information superhighways that make up the internet.

Synonyms

cyberspace, internet, network.

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Word Description / Examples
tubes

In a more casual or humorous setting, this term can denote the Internet, especially in reference to its infrastructure. While not commonly used in professional or technical contexts, it can be employed to make light of tech discussions.

  • Can you believe my video is still buffering? These tubes must be really clogged today!
  • The senator famously referred to the Internet as a series of tubes.
internet

This is the most commonly used term for the global system of interconnected computer networks. It's suitable for formal, technical, and everyday contexts when referring to online activities, web browsing, and digital communication.

  • I found the recipe on the internet.
  • With the internet, you can communicate with people across the globe.
cyberspace

This term is often used in discussions about the Internet and the virtual environments inside it. It's appropriate for talking about online interactions, digital communities, and the overall virtual world.

  • She spends most of her free time exploring the vast reaches of cyberspace.
  • Cybersecurity is crucial for protecting our data in cyberspace.
network

This term refers to a group of interconnected devices or systems. While it can mean the Internet, it's more often used to describe smaller, specific systems, such as a home network, a corporate network, or a social network.

  • Our office network is down, so we can't access our files.
  • She has a strong network of professional contacts.

Examples of usage

  • I can't access the website because the tubes are clogged with traffic.
  • The video went viral and broke the internet tubes.
Context #3 | Verb

informal

To 'tubes' something means to transport or convey it through a system of tubes or channels.

Synonyms

convey, transfer, transport.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
tubes

Used to describe hollow cylindrical objects that can carry liquids, gases, or other materials. Often found in plumbing, medical instruments, or industrial applications.

  • The laboratory uses glass tubes for experiments
  • The plumber repaired the leaking tubes in our bathroom
transport

Used to describe the act of moving people or goods from one location to another, usually over considerable distances and often involving vehicles such as cars, trucks, planes, or ships.

  • They used trucks to transport the goods to the warehouse
  • Public transport in the city includes buses, trains, and trams
convey

Typically used to describe the act of communicating thoughts, feelings, or information, rather than physical movement of objects.

  • She tried to convey her gratitude through a heartfelt letter
  • The teacher used a diagram to convey the concept more clearly
transfer

Often used when describing the act of moving something from one place, person, or situation to another, especially in official contexts or when the action is a formal process.

  • The company decided to transfer him to their London office
  • You can transfer money to another account via the banking app

Examples of usage

  • We need to tubes the data from one server to another.
  • The company tubes their products directly to customers.

Translations

Translations of the word "tubes" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น tubos

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคŸเฅเคฏเฅ‚เคฌเฅเคธ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Rรถhren

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ tabung

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั‚ั€ัƒะฑะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ rury

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใƒใƒฅใƒผใƒ–

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท tubes

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tubos

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท borular

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ํŠœ๋ธŒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฃู†ุงุจูŠุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ trubky

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ rรบrky

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ฎก

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ cevi

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rรถr

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ั‚ั€ัƒะฑะฐะปะฐั€

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ borular

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tubos

Etymology

The word 'tubes' originated from Middle English 'tube', which came from Latin 'tubus', meaning pipe or tube. The use of tubes in medical procedures dates back to ancient times, with evidence of early civilizations using hollow reeds for various purposes. In modern times, tubes have become indispensable in medical, industrial, and technological applications, symbolizing the interconnectedness of the world through networks like the internet.

See also: tube.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,403, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.