test tube

¹ American  

noun

1. a hollow cylinder of thin glass with one end closed, used in chemical and biological experimentation and analysis.

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test-tube ² American  

[test-toob, -tyoob] / ˈtɛstˌtub, -ˌtyub /

adjective

1. produced in or as if in a test tube; synthetic or experimental.

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test tube British  

noun

1. a cylindrical round-bottomed glass tube open at one end: used in scientific experiments

2. (modifier) made synthetically in, or as if in, a test tube

   a test-tube product

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test tube Scientific  

/ tĕst /

1. A cylindrical tube of clear glass, usually open at one end and rounded at the other, used as a container for small amounts of a substance in laboratory tests and experiments.

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Etymology

Origin of test tube¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Origin of test-tube²

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

The team sealed E. coli bacteria inside test tubes filled with pure water ice.

From Science Daily

In science class he dropped a test tube full of a liquid that tested as strongly acidic.

From Literature

Dr. Carroll put the filled test tubes in a holder, then turned to the last vial.

From Literature

Mr. Stanley pulls out a rack of test tubes.

From Literature

The RNA used in experiments are usually produced in test tubes, a costly process often patented by US companies.

From Barron's