Vial: meaning, definitions and examples

Used for small containers typically designed to hold liquid medicines or other sensitive substances. Often seen in medical or scientific settings.

• The scientist carefully filled the vial with the new drug.
• The nurse drew the vaccine into a vial.

Commonly used in laboratories for holding chemicals; can also refer to a small, flat container used to carry alcohol discreetly.

• The chemist poured the solution into a flask.
• He took a sip from his hip flask.

An archaic term similar to 'vial', often found in literature or historical contexts, referring to small glass containers for holding liquids.

• The apothecary placed the potion in a phial.
• She found a phial of mysterious liquid in the old chest.

A general term for larger containers, often with a narrow neck, used to hold liquids for everyday use like drinks, sauces, or shampoos.

• She opened a bottle of water.
• The baby drank milk from a bottle.

Typically used in medical and laboratory settings to refer to small glass or plastic containers that hold liquids, often for medication or samples.

• The nurse filled the vial with the patient's blood sample
• The medication was delivered in a small vial

Generally used in scientific laboratories to describe a container usually with a narrow neck, used for storing, mixing, or heating substances.

• The chemist carefully added the solution to the Erlenmeyer flask
• The mixture was heated in a round-bottom flask

Similar to 'vial', it’s often used to denote a small glass container for liquids, commonly used in historical or literary contexts.

• The ancient potion was stored in a dusty phial
• The wizard took a phial from his shelf

Refers to a sealed glass capsule containing a liquid, especially for injection. Commonly used in medical and pharmaceutical fields.

• The doctor broke the ampoule to get the anesthetic for the surgery
• The vaccine came in a small ampoule