Definition

Noun: A small, slender tube, typically made of glass or plastic, with a rubber bulb at one end. It is used to draw up a small quantity of liquid and then release it in controlled, individual drops.

Usage

An eye dropper is a tool for precise liquid handling. It is primarily used to administer small, measured amounts of liquid, most commonly eye medication, but also for other delicate tasks.

Examples

• The pharmacist recommended using an eye dropper to apply the antibiotic drops.
• For the science experiment, she carefully added the dye one drop at a time with an eye dropper.
• He cleaned the eye dropper thoroughly after each use to prevent contamination.

Advanced Usage

• "Medicine dropper" or "dropper": These are common synonyms, though "eye dropper" specifies its most frequent medical use. In many contexts, simply "dropper" is understood.
  • The recipe calls for a dropper full of vanilla extract.

Variants and Related Words

• Dropper (noun): A more general term for the same device.
• Pipette (noun): A laboratory instrument for measuring and transferring small volumes of liquid; a more precise and technical tool similar in function.

Synonyms

• Medicine dropper
• Dropper
• Pipette (in specific contexts)

Notes on Meaning

The term specifically refers to the simple tube-and-bulb device. While "pipette" is a related laboratory tool, an "eye dropper" is generally a simpler, less precise instrument intended for general-purpose or medicinal use.

Noun

1. pipet consisting of a small tube with a vacuum bulb at one end for drawing liquid in and releasing it a drop at a time
   • she used an eye dropper to administer medication to the eyes