tube

noun

1. Anything that is hollow and cylindrical in shape.

   “But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window […], and a 'bead' could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.”

2. An approximately cylindrical container, usually with a crimped end and a screw top, used to contain and dispense semiliquid substances.

   “A tube of toothpaste.”

3. (British, capitalized, colloquial, often)The London Underground railway system, originally referred to the lower level lines that ran in tubular tunnels as opposed to the higher ones which ran in rectangular section tunnels. (Often the tube.)

   “I took the tube to Waterloo and walked the rest of the way.”

   “He took the tube to Westminster and disappeared.”

   “The economist also observed that some of the Victoria Line's cost should be debited to existing lines, as they would benefit from the rebuilding of their interchange stations with the new tube.”

4. (British, capitalized, colloquial, obsolete, often)The London Underground railway system, originally referred to the lower level lines that ran in tubular tunnels as opposed to the higher ones which ran in rectangular section tunnels. (Often the tube.)

   “And thus it came about that on that October morning I found myself in the deep level tube with the Professor speeding to the North of London in what proved to be one of the most singular experiences of my remarkable life.”

5. (Australia, slang)A tin can containing beer.

   “It's alright to cop a warm tube of Fosters and a cold pie 'n' peas when you're dated by one of the locals[.]”

   “Tinnie: a tin of beer — also called a tube.”

   “Beer is also available from bottleshops (or bottle-o's) in cases (or 'slabs') of 24-36 cans (‘tinnies' or ‘tubes') or bottles (‘stubbies') of 375ml each.”

   “That Humphries should imply that, in the Foster's ads, Hogan's ocker appropriated McKenzie's discourse (specifically the idiom "crack an ice-cold tube") reinforces my contention.”

6. A wave which pitches forward when breaking, creating a hollow space inside.

   “It seemed like Butch was invincible, like he could do nothing wrong, coming through one unbelievable tube after another.”

7. (Canada, US, colloquial)A television. Compare cathode ray tube and picture tube.

   “Right now, there is a whole, an entire generation that never knew anything that didn't come out of this tube. This tube is the gospel, the ultimate revelation; this tube can make or break presidents, popes, prime ministers; this tube is the most awesome goddamn propaganda force in the whole godless world, […]”

   “I sit around and watch the tube, but nothing's on. I change the channels for an hour or two.”

8. (Scotland, slang)An idiot.

   “'Don't be a bloody tube, Jack,' she told me. (I always loved it when she used Scottish terms of abuse in that English accent of hers.)”

   “I'm a tube? Who got done for speeding? Who got lifted for bloody assault?”

9. (abbreviation, alt-of)Short for speaking tube.

   “A hundred yards before they reached the house he had given an order to his chauffeur to drop into the lowest speed and they were leisurely drawing past when a discovery by Mr Carlyle modified their plans. […] Carrados picked up the tube again. A couple of sentences passed and the car stopped by the roadside, a score of paces past the limit of the garden.”

verb

1. (transitive)To supply with, or enclose in, a tube.

   “She tubes lipstick in the cosmetics factory.”

2. (transitive)To ride an inner tube.

   “They tubed down the Colorado River.”

3. (colloquial, transitive)To intubate.

   “The patient was tubed.”

name

1. (informal)The London Underground.

   “Still, it’s not just the decline of civilisation that worries me, nor the (related) effect on Tube manners (Candy Crushers are rarely very chivalrous).”