vial

[ vahy-uhl, vahyl ]

noun

1. Also a small container, as of glass, for holding liquids:

   a vial of rare perfume; a vial of medicine.

verb (used with object)

, vi·aled, vi·al·ing or (especially British) vi·alled, vi·al·ling.

1. to put into or keep in a vial.

vial

/ ˈvaɪəl; vaɪl /

noun

1. See phial
   a less common variant of phial

Word History and Origins

Origin of vial¹

1300–50; Middle English viole, variant of fiole phial

Word History and Origins

Origin of vial¹

C14: fiole, from Old French, from Old Provençal fiola, from Latin phiala, from Greek phialē; see phial

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. pour out vials of wrath, to wreak vengeance or express anger:

   In her preface she pours out vials of wrath on her detractors.

Example Sentences

Just a few years ago, improperly stored smallpox vials were found in a lab in the US.

From Vox

One potential challenge, though, is that if every vial is assumed to have six doses, then Pfizer can complete their contract with the US government by shipping fewer vials.

From Popular-Science

The department had free vaccine doses but needed help getting them out of vials and into arms.

From Washington Post

It’s hard to track how many vials of vaccines are swimming around San Diego County.

From Voice of San Diego

Starting with the second shipment, BioNTech will send vaccine materials to Fosun to “fill and finish,” meaning Fosun will fill the vials and package the vaccines for distribution.

From Fortune

Vial distinguishes between two types of images—the innocent and the showoff, in which the performers “play” for her.

From The Daily Beast

But no matter where her career has taken her, or how big the Cirque has become, Vial keeps coming back.

From The Daily Beast

Vial, on the other hand, has become a well-known photographer whose clients include celebrities and major advertisers.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty-eight years ago, Veronique Vial was asked to photograph Cirque du Soleil.

From The Daily Beast

When Vial got that first assignment, she was just beginning her photography career, and Cirque du Soleil was only a few years old.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the cardinal had passed behind the altar to put on his pontifical robes; soon he reappeared with the holy vial.

From Project Gutenberg

But Iftikhar drew from his bosom a crystal vial, in which glowed a liquor red as vermilion.

From Project Gutenberg

But Iftikhar first knelt by Morgiana's side, drew forth the little red vial, and laid the magic, fiery drops upon her tongue.

From Project Gutenberg

You must uncork that vial and fling the contents into his face.

From Project Gutenberg

He filled the hypodermic from a little vial that glittered in the light of the lamp.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottle
• flask