beaker

noun

bea·​ker ˈbē-kər 

1

: a large drinking cup that has a wide mouth and is sometimes supported on a standard

2

: a deep widemouthed thin-walled vessel usually with a lip for pouring that is used especially in science laboratories

Examples of beaker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He was dismayed to discover that an awful lot of the job involved moving beakers from one table to another. —William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

The refining process is simple distillation but with a lot of unnecessary pouring from one beaker to another to another ... all under a carport atop a gravel driveway in the backyard of his house. —New Atlas, 23 June 2025

Warm bodies in lab coats dissect the ingredients, studying and categorizing them in beakers and Petri dishes. —Essence, 16 June 2025

Other shots nod to his swimming career in Dsquared2 briefs, and to his Ivy League degree with a runway-ready lab suit with a beaker while tangled in medical tubing. —Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 25 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English biker, borrowed from Old Norse bikarr, probably borrowed from a continental Germanic form akin to Old Saxon bikeri, borrowed from early Medieval Latin bicarium, variant of bacarium — more at basin

Note: As noted by the Middle English Dictionary, the modern English form probably reflects influence of Middle Dutch beker.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for beaker

• meeker
• seeker
• sneaker
• speaker
• weaker
• loudspeaker

Kids Definition

beaker

noun

bea·​ker ˈbē-kər 

: a deep cup or glass with a wide mouth and usually a lip for pouring

Medical Definition

beaker

noun

bea·​ker ˈbē-kər 

: a deep widemouthed thin-walled vessel usually with a lip for pouring that is used especially in science laboratories