bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl 

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

Bacon, egg and cheese bagels are core to the New York City experience. —Zoya Hasan, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

Like Silk City, guests can order a fresh brew to enjoy in-house or to-go, as well as peruse their menu of breakfast sandwiches, bagels and more. —Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2025

The air fryer function is one of 13 presets on the digital control panel, and each one employs the right combination of heating elements for perfect toast, bagels, cookies, pizza, slow-cooking, and more. —Emily Farris, Bon Appétit, 14 Feb. 2025

Achilles’ accompanying food menu includes lots of options like real New York bagels, toasts, breakfast burritos and lunch sandwiches such as the Carmel Valley with turkey, bacon, Harvarti cheese, heirloom tomatoes, arugula and pesto piled on toasted sourdough. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025

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

Kids Definition

bagel

noun

ba·​gel ˈbā-gəl 

: a firm doughnut-shaped roll