pipette

noun pi·pette \ pī-ˈpet \

variants: or less commonly pipet

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Definition of pipette

: a small piece of apparatus which typically consists of a narrow tube into which fluid is drawn by suction (as for dispensing or measurement) and retained by closing the upper end

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pipette

or less commonly pipet verb

See pipette defined for English-language learners

See pipette defined for kids

Recent Examples of pipette from the Web

New tweaks to the formula are made easy with a large enough tray, a small enough pipette and an astronaut willing to take some direction.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "How Space Crystals Could Lead To New Cancer Drugs," 5 June 2018
But this approach had an inherent flaw: Over time, a pipette’s accuracy drifts.

— john carreyrou, WIRED, "A New Look Inside Theranos’ Dysfunctional Corporate Culture," 21 May 2018
To prevent stress, the corals are strictly monitored by students who hand-feed them with pipettes, like mamas tending to baby birds.

— joanna klein, New York Times, "This Coral Must Die," 25 June 2018
But what about all the other tiny details of an experiment that might be subject to the same exactitude—the time of day, the indoor temperature, the size of the pipettes, and so on?

— daniel engber, Slate Magazine, "Science Is Broken. How Much Should We Fix It?," 5 May 2017
Su, with a doctorate in entomology and 45 years of termite research experience, can mouth-pipette 200-300 termites in a single minute that will be used to study the bugs’ division of labor.

— andrea januta and jennifer lu, miamiherald, "From cruise ship brewmaster to hurricane hunter, these are some of our unusual jobs," 3 Sep. 2017
But Robert Goodman, founder of the program Mr. Zavorotniy works with, seeks to re-engineer that pipette-thin pipeline with a batch of curriculums called the Progressive Science Initiative (PSI).

— charlie wood, The Christian Science Monitor, "Looking for leaders in physics education? Try New Jersey.," 12 July 2017
The technician, upon completing the procedure, discovered that there was still genetic material on the tip of the pipette, Mr. Geurts said.

— nina siegal, New York Times, "Dutch Fertility Clinic Investigates Possible Sperm Mix-Up," 28 Dec. 2016
The kit also includes food-grade plastic tubing, pipettes and syringe, and metal measuring spoons and a strainer.

— kathy ceceri, WIRED, "Molecular Cuisine Kit from ThinkGeek: 100% Artificial Ingredients," 26 June 2012

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pipette.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pipette

French pipette, diminutive of pipe pipe, cask, from Vulgar Latin *pipa, *pippa pipe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1839

in the meaning defined above

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PIPETTE Defined for English Language Learners

pipette

noun

Definition of pipette for English Language Learners

: a narrow glass tube used for measuring liquid or for moving small amounts of liquid from one place to another

Medical Dictionary

pipette

noun pi·pette

variants: also pipet play \pī-ˈpet\

medical Definition of pipette

: a small piece of apparatus which typically consists of a narrow tube into which fluid is drawn by suction (as for dispensing or measurement) and retained by closing the upper end

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