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

Less than 30 seconds later, she returns clutching four bottles - one turquoise blue, the other three containing clear liquid in 10ml vials.

From BBC

On a recent day at his apartment, I watched Mays load medication from more than 20 vials into a weekly pill organizer.

From Los Angeles Times

And, if so, how much now sat in the vial in the hands of Jessica Segura, a nurse with the Department of Public Health?

From Los Angeles Times

All I need to do is hunt for some dirty water, the dirtier the better, dip the vials in and screw on the lid.

From BBC

The administration dispatched Secretary of State Colin Powell to the United Nations, where he held up a small vial that he said represented just a small portion of the weaponised anthrax bacteria that Iraqi possessed.

From BBC

Related Words

• bottle 
• flask