bottle
BOT-l
Bottle (noun) means a container, usually glass or plastic, with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids. Example: “He filled his water bottle before the hike.”
noun
1
A container, usually glass or plastic, with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids.
"He filled his water bottle before the hike."
"She recycled the empty wine bottles after the party."
"Please pass me that bottle of olive oil from the shelf."
2
A container with a nipple used to feed liquid, especially milk or formula, to a baby.
"She warmed up a bottle for the baby before bed."
"The baby drank her whole bottle and then fell fast asleep."
"Remember to sterilise the bottle and teat before every feed."
3
(British, informal) Nerve or courage.
"He lost his bottle at the last second and didn't jump."
"It takes a lot of bottle to stand up and sing in front of everyone."
"I wanted to ask her out, but I didn't have the bottle."
verb
1
To put a liquid into bottles for storage or sale.
"The winery bottles its own vintage every autumn."
"Local farmers bottle the honey by hand and sell it at the market."
"The dairy bottles fresh milk each morning before the delivery vans leave."
2
To hold back or suppress feelings instead of expressing them, especially in "bottle up."
"He tends to bottle up his stress instead of talking about it."
"Try not to bottle things up, because talking to a friend really helps."
"She bottled up her disappointment and smiled through the whole dinner."
How to use bottle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA container for liquids with a narrow neck; also used to mean nerve or courage, and — as "bottle up" — to hold in one's feelings.
UK vs US
"Lose your bottle" (meaning lose your nerve) is a British expression, not commonly used in American English.
Common pairings
bottle up
lose your bottle
baby bottle
bottle of wine
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Word forms
- Plural
- bottles
- Third person singular
- bottles
- Past tense
- bottled
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He filled his water _____ before the hike.
Etymology
From Old French boteille, from Late Latin butticula, a diminutive of buttis ("cask") — the same root that gives us "butt" as in a cask of wine.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for bottle
See all rhymes for bottle →Frequently asked questions
What does “bottle” mean?
The word “bottle” means a container, usually glass or plastic, with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids. In plain terms, a container for liquids with a narrow neck; also used to mean nerve or courage, and — as "bottle up" — to hold in one's feelings.
How do you pronounce “bottle”?
“Bottle” is pronounced BOT-l (/ˈbɑ.tl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “bottle” in a sentence?
Here is “bottle” used in a sentence: “He filled his water bottle before the hike.”
What is another word for “bottle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bottle” include baby's bottle, feeding bottle and nursing bottle.
What is the opposite of “bottle”?
The opposite of “bottle” — its antonyms — is cowardice.
What part of speech is “bottle”?
Depending on how it is used, “bottle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “bottle” come from?
The word “bottle” comes from Late Latin. From Old French boteille, from Late Latin butticula, a diminutive of buttis ("cask") — the same root that gives us "butt" as in a cask of wine.
Is “bottle” a common word?
“Bottle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between a bottle and a jar?
A bottle has a narrow neck and small opening, designed for pouring liquids cleanly. A jar has a wide mouth and short or no neck, suited to solids, spreads, or thicker contents you scoop out. The narrow neck is the defining feature that sets a bottle apart from a jar.
What are the common types of bottles?
Bottles are usually named by material or use: glass and plastic bottles for drinks, reusable water bottles and baby bottles, and specialised forms like wine bottles, spray bottles, and hot-water bottles. They vary widely in size, closure, and shape, but all share the characteristic narrow neck for controlled pouring.
What is an example of a bottle?
Everyday examples include a plastic water bottle, a glass milk or wine bottle, a ketchup bottle, and a baby's feeding bottle. Each holds liquid and pours it through a narrow neck, usually sealed with a cap, cork, or screw top to keep the contents fresh and secure.
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