pipette

play

noun pi·pette \pī-ˈpet\

variants: or less commonly

pipet

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

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

Teenagers wearing safety goggles squat down, sucking up samples of the clear liquid with pipettes.

— stacy teicher khadaroo, The Christian Science Monitor, "Test Drive: New Hampshire teachers build new ways to measure deeper learning", 27 June 2017
To capture the precious liquid, the park rangers use a pipette, directly sucking the venom from the aggressive spider’s fangs (a process visitors are invited to watch).

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Australian Zoo Calls for Public Help Collecting One of the World’s Deadliest Spiders", 25 Jan. 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 history-making blend comes in an intricately etched Saint-Louis carafe alongside four glasses and a white gold Puiforcat pipette, inside an Hermès leather trunk.

— sarah bray, Town & Country, "I Went To France to Taste Century-Old Cognac", 30 Aug. 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

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First Known Use: 1839

See Words from the same year

PIPETTE Defined for English Language Learners

pipette

play

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

\pī-ˈpet\play

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