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)

vialed, vialing , vialled, vialling .

1. to put into or keep in a vial.

vial

/ ˈvaɪəl, vaɪl /

noun

1. 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

We opened the unlabelled white envelope and found needles, mixing agents and a vial of unlabelled white powder.

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Insulin users without health insurance today can pay $400 for a small vial.

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Since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 5, she has had several situations where she’s needed an emergency vial of insulin and was unable to get it immediately from her pharmacy.

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When she complains about his use of painkillers, he simply throws away the vials.

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Researchers posing as beauticians secretly filmed a nurse trading prescriptions over WhatsApp, a pharmacist coaching clients to falsify records and a bogus doctor handing over Korean toxin vials for cash.

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Related Words

• bottle 
• flask