bellows: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, Literary, Historical
Quick answer
What does “bellows” mean?
A device with flexible sides that can be squeezed together to force air out through a tube, used for blowing air onto a fire or into a musical instrument.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A device with flexible sides that can be squeezed together to force air out through a tube, used for blowing air onto a fire or into a musical instrument.
1) A device for blowing air. 2) An expandable part resembling such a device, e.g., in photography (camera part) or engineering (a flexible connector). 3) (verb) To expand and contract like a bellows; to blow air using a bellows.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling and usage are identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes manual labour, blacksmithing, traditional fireplace tools, or technical/mechanical contexts.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, primarily found in specific technical or historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bellows” in a Sentence
VERB + BELLOWS: use, operate, pump, work, squeezeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bellows” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The old forge bellowsed noisily.
- His chest bellowsed with each deep breath after the run.
American English
- He bellowsed air into the dying campfire.
- The mechanic bellowsed the carburetor to clear it.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in manufacturing or antique tool contexts.
Academic
Used in historical, engineering, or musicology texts.
Everyday
Uncommon; mostly in contexts like historical reenactment or traditional crafts.
Technical
Common in specific fields: photography (camera bellows), metallurgy (forge bellows), mechanical engineering (bellows seal).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bellows”
- Using it as a plural-only noun incorrectly (e.g., 'these bellows are' vs. 'this bellows is'). Confusing it with 'bellow' (the verb).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is usually treated as a singular noun (e.g., 'a bellows is'), though its plural form for multiple devices is 'bellowses'.
'Bellows' typically refers to a manually operated, flexible-sided device. 'Blower' is a more general term that can include electric or mechanical fans.
Yes, though it's rare and often poetic/descriptive, meaning to blow or force air out, or to expand and contract like a bellows.
Yes, both derive from the same Old English root related to 'bellan' (to roar), as a bellows makes a roaring fire.
A device with flexible sides that can be squeezed together to force air out through a tube, used for blowing air onto a fire or into a musical instrument.
Bellows is usually technical, literary, historical in register.
Bellows: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛləʊz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛloʊz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to have lungs like a bellows (to have strong lungs)”
- “bellows to mend (archaic: out of breath)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BELLOW' (to shout loudly) + 'S'. A bellows helps a fire to 'BELLOW' (roar) by blowing air.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUNGS ARE BELLOWS ("His lungs bellowsed with the effort"), EXPANSION/CONTRACTION IS THE ACTION OF A BELLOWS.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'bellows' correctly?