bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl How to pronounce bagel (audio)
plural bagels
1
: a firm doughnut-shaped roll traditionally made by boiling and then baking
2
[from the resemblance of a bagel to the zero in the score of such a set] tennis, slang : a set (see set entry 2 sense 15) in which one player or team wins every game
They were never in danger of losing, taking a 5-1 lead in the first set and registering a bagel in the second.Mike McGovern

Examples of bagel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tim Spiers Tennis: A golden set The bagel (a 6-0 set) is too commonplace to be considered the most perfect thing in tennis. The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 2 Jan. 2025 Cafe La Jefa is a casual spot offering bagels, pastries and drinks to go, as well as more substantial breakfast options. Freda Moon, New York Times, 26 Dec. 2024 The 4-slice, wide slot toaster has bagel, defrost, and cancel buttons, and individual controls on each side – including 6 browning settings. Terri Williams, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 Pool resources with other class parents and provide a pizza lunch or bagels and spreads for breakfast. Melissa Willets, Parents, 12 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bagel 

Word History

Etymology

Yiddish beygl, from Middle High German *böugel ring, from bouc ring, from Old High German; akin to Old English bēag ring, būgan to bend — more at bow

First Known Use

1908, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bagel was in 1908

Dictionary Entries Near bagel

Cite this Entry

“Bagel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bagel. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

bagel

noun
ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl How to pronounce bagel (audio)
: a firm doughnut-shaped roll

More from Merriam-Webster on bagel

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