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noun Uncommon

vial

VEYE-uhl

Vial (noun) means a small glass or plastic container, often tube-shaped, used to hold liquids such as medicine or perfume. Example: “The nurse drew the vaccine from a small glass vial.”

noun
1
A small glass or plastic container, often tube-shaped, used to hold liquids such as medicine or perfume.
"The nurse drew the vaccine from a small glass vial."
"She kept a vial of perfume in her handbag."

How to use vial

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small bottle, usually for liquid medicine or similar substances.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a vial of blood vial of medicine

Word forms

vialed past tense, vialled past tense, vials plural, Vials plural, vials singular

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The nurse drew the vaccine from a small glass _____.

Etymology

From Middle English vial, a variant of "phial" — both trace back to the same Greek-derived word for a small flask.

Origin: Middle English

phial ampul ampule ampoule

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for vial

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Frequently asked questions

What does “vial” mean?

The word “vial” means a small glass or plastic container, often tube-shaped, used to hold liquids such as medicine or perfume. In plain terms, a small bottle, usually for liquid medicine or similar substances.

How do you pronounce “vial”?

“Vial” is pronounced VEYE-uhl (/ˈvaɪəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “vial” in a sentence?

Here is “vial” used in a sentence: “The nurse drew the vaccine from a small glass vial.”

What is the opposite of “vial”?

The opposite of “vial” — its antonyms — are ampoule and vacutainer.

What part of speech is “vial”?

“Vial” is a noun.

Where does the word “vial” come from?

The word “vial” comes from Middle English. From Middle English vial, a variant of "phial" — both trace back to the same Greek-derived word for a small flask.

Is “vial” a common word?

“Vial” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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