beaker
/ˈbiːkɚ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.80 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A flat-bottomed, straight-sided, glass vessel, with a lip and often a small spout, used as a laboratory container.
noun
A drinking vessel without a handle.
noun
A mug.
Example Sentences
- "The beakers of mead spilled in huge puddles."
- "[…] at every meal break he shambled into the galley black-fingered and smelling of engine-grease and concrete floors, to contemplate over his meal the beakers at their round tables chatting away, completely oblivious […]"
Etymology
From Middle English bekyr, biker, from Old Norse bikarr (“cup”), from Old Saxon bikeri (“cup”), from Proto-West Germanic *bikārī, from Late Latin bīcārium (“wine vat, jug”), of disputed origin. Possibly from Ancient Greek βῖκος (bîkos, “earthenware jug, wine jar”), or from Latin bacarium (“wine vat, vase”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian Bieker (“mug, cup, beaker”), Dutch beker (“beaker, cup”), German Becher (“beaker, cup, goblet”), Danish bæger (“beaker”), Italian bicchiere (“cup, glass (for drink)”). Doublet of pitcher.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: bekyr, bikarr, bikeri, *bikārī, bīcārium, βῖκος
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbiːkɚ/
- British English: /ˈbiːkə(ɹ)/