bottle

1 of 2

noun

bot·​tle ˈbä-tᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or plastic having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth and usually no handle
b
: a usually bottle-shaped container made of skin for storing a liquid
2
: the quantity held by a bottle
3
a
: intoxicating drink : the practice of drinking
slipped deeper and deeper into the bottleAnne Bernays
b
: liquid food (such as milk) used in place of mother's milk
4
British slang : mettle, courage
bottleful noun

bottle

2 of 2

verb

bottled; bottling ˈbä-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce bottle (audio)
ˈbät-liŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to confine as if in a bottle : restrain
usually used with up
bottling up their anger
b
: to put or keep in a position or situation that makes free activity, progress, or escape difficult or impossible
usually used with up
bottle up legislation in committee
2
: to put into or as if into a bottle
wished she could bottle their energy
bottler
ˈbä-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce bottle (audio)
ˈbät-lər
noun

Examples of bottle in a Sentence

Noun We drank a bottle of wine. He says he's lost too many years to the bottle, and that he's giving up alcohol. Her struggles with the bottle affected her entire family. Has the baby finished her bottle yet? raised on a bottle instead of breast milk Verb The restaurant bottles its own ginger ale. Near the top of the mountain, the climbers relied on bottled oxygen to breathe.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
As for any dusty bottles of Keeper Springs lying around: sip carefully. Charles Bethea, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024 Contributing commerce writer Annie Blackman with the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil. Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil $30 $21 Amazon $30 $21 Dermstore This little bottle of gold colored works its fair share of magic. Annie Blackman, Allure, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
In addition to the only bottling of its kind to ever be made, the winner of the auction will enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Maison Martell’s Château de Chanteloup, including a tasting masterclass with Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 27 Nov. 2024 When it was done, the concoction looked like seawater bottled at low tide. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 20 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bottle 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English botel, from Old French botele, from Medieval Latin butticula, diminutive of Late Latin buttis cask

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bottle

Cite this Entry

“Bottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottle. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

bottle

1 of 2 noun
bot·​tle ˈbät-ᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
1
a
: a container (as of glass or plastic) with a narrow neck and mouth and usually no handle
b
: a bag made of skin used to hold a liquid
2
: the quantity held by a bottle
3
: a bottle with a rubber or plastic nipple for feeding an infant
bottleful noun

bottle

2 of 2 verb
bottled; bottling ˈbät-liŋ How to pronounce bottle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to put into a bottle
2
: to shut up as if in a bottle : restrain
bottled up their anger
bottler
-lər How to pronounce bottle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

Medical Definition

bottle

noun
bot·​tle ˈbät-ᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
often attributive
1
: a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or plastic having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth and usually no handle see wash bottle
2
: liquid food usually consisting of milk and supplements that is fed from a bottle (as to an infant) in place of mother's milk

More from Merriam-Webster on bottle

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