beaker
BEE-ker
/ˈbiː.kər/
A simple cylindrical glass container with a flat bottom and pouring lip, used in laboratories for mixing, holding, and heating liquids.
Used for general holding and rough volume estimates, not for high-precision volume measurements.
The story behind the word. Long before laboratories existed, a beaker was a large open drinking cup or goblet in medieval Northern Europe. In the 19th century, scientists adopted the sturdy, flat-bottomed cup shape as a standard lab vessel.
Word relationships
- flask: A flask usually has a narrow neck, whereas a beaker has straight cylindrical sides and a spout.
- jar: A jar is a storage vessel with threads for a lid; a beaker is an open lip-spouted lab vessel.
Commonly confused with
- beaker vs flask: Beakers have wide straight sides; flasks taper upward into narrow necks.
Word family
- beakers (noun): Plural form referring to multiple cylindrical laboratory containers.
Collocations
- glass beaker
- pyrex beaker
- pour into a beaker
- graduated beaker
Example sentences
- "The chemist poured fifty milliliters of distilled water into a clean glass beaker." General Chemistry
- "Always check the glassware for hairline cracks before placing a beaker over a burner." Lab Safety
Memory hook
A beaker has a small pouring spout shaped like a bird's BEAK. Flat-bottomed glass cylinder with a spout.
When not to use
Do not use when high analytical volumetric precision is required (use a volumetric flask or burette instead).
Fun facts
- Despite having printed graduation lines on the side, standard beakers are only accurate to within about 5%.
Related words
Also appears in
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