test-tube

adjective \ ˈtes(t)-ˌt(y)üb \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Definition of test-tube

1 : in vitro

test-tube experiments

2 : produced by in vitro fertilization

test-tube babies

First Known Use of test-tube

1866

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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test tube

noun

Definition of test tube

: a plain or lipped tube usually of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology

See test tube defined for English-language learners

See test tube defined for kids

Recent Examples of test tube from the Web

Teams led by that duo and, separately, by Šikšnys first showed that the immune system of bacteria, CRISPR, could be paired with the Cas9 enzyme to alter purified DNA floating outside cells, in test tubes.

— sharon begley, STAT, "Who gets credit for CRISPR? Prestigious award singles out three, and leaves out a notable scientist," 31 May 2018
Virgin Voyages' first ship will have a Test Kitchen restaurant, designed by Concrete Amsterdam, that is made to look like a laboratory, with a periodic table in the entrance and test tubes, beakers and flasks inside.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Virgin promised its ships will be unlike any other cruise. Here are the first images | Miami Herald," 17 May 2018
Kristof wrote that blood tied to Cooper was found to have a chemical called EDTA in it, which could suggest it had previously been stored in a test tube in law enforcement possession.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Sen. Kamala Harris: Calif. should test DNA of inmate condemned amid controversy," 21 May 2018
The ship will also have a Test Kitchen restaurant, designed by Concrete Amsterdam, that is made to look like a laboratory, with a periodic table in the entrance and test tubes, beakers and flasks inside.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Virgin promised its ships will be unlike any other cruise. Here are the first images | Miami Herald," 17 May 2018
Previously, brain organoids were grown in test tubes or lab dishes that severely limited their growth.

— NBC News, "'Brain in a bucket' study spurs medical, ethical debates," 16 May 2018
Police searched the trash and found a test tube with cannabis and a smoking pipe, according to the report.

— steve sadin, chicagotribune.com, "Blotter: Man charged in Riverwoods home burglary," 26 Mar. 2018
Meanwhile, in the gleaming labs of the Zambia Agricultural Research Institute, a government agency, researchers nurture shoots of disease-resistant cassava in test tubes.

— The Economist, "African governments are having doubts about their staple crop," 12 Apr. 2018
Caruso: Specifically with domestic dogs, [scientists] actually developed this coat that had a test tube attached to the end.

— rachel becker, The Verge, "Birds don’t fart, neither do sloths, and other secrets of #DoesItFart," 31 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of test tube

1846

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

TEST-TUBE Defined for English Language Learners

test tube

noun

Definition of test tube for English Language Learners

: a glass container that is shaped like a tube which is closed at one end and that is used especially in science experiments

TEST-TUBE Defined for Kids

test tube

noun

Definition of test tube for Students

: a tube of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology

Medical Dictionary

test-tube

adjective

medical Definition of test-tube

1 : in vitro

test-tube experiments

2 : produced by in vitro fertilization

test-tube babies

test tube

noun

medical Definition of test tube

: a plain or lipped tube usually of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology

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test-tube

Definition of test-tube

First Known Use of test-tube

test tube

Definition of test tube

Recent Examples of test tube from the Web

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TEST-TUBE Defined for English Language Learners

test tube

Definition of test tube for English Language Learners

TEST-TUBE Defined for Kids

test tube

Definition of test tube for Students

Medical Dictionary

test-tube

medical Definition of test-tube

test tube

medical Definition of test tube

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