Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small container, typically with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids: A "flask" is a bottle, often made of glass or metal, characterized by a narrow neck and sometimes a flat body, designed for carrying or storing liquids.
   • A container used in scientific laboratories: In a laboratory context, a "flask" is a piece of glassware with a conical or round body and a narrow cylindrical neck, used for mixing, heating, or storing chemicals.
   • A measure of quantity: "Flask" can also refer to the amount of liquid a particular flask can contain.

Examples of Usage

• General Container:
  • He took a silver flask from his pocket and offered me a drink.
  • She filled her thermal flask with hot coffee for the hike.
• Scientific Equipment:
  • The chemist heated the solution in an Erlenmeyer flask.
  • Please hand me the volumetric flask to prepare this standard solution.
• Measure of Quantity:
  • The recipe calls for a flask of brandy.

Advanced Usage

• "Powder flask": A small container, historically made of horn or metal, used to carry gunpowder.
  • The museum displayed an antique powder flask from the 18th century.
• "Dewar flask" (or vacuum flask): A double-walled flask with a vacuum between the walls, used to keep liquids at a constant temperature, often for scientific purposes or as a thermos.
  • Liquid nitrogen is stored in a Dewar flask.

Variants and Related Words

• Hip flask (n): A small, flat flask designed to fit in a hip pocket, typically for carrying liquor.
  • He always carried a hip flask of whiskey.
• Erlenmeyer flask (n): A conical laboratory flask with a flat bottom and a narrow neck.
• Volumetric flask (n): A laboratory flask with a long neck and a flat bottom, calibrated to contain a precise volume of liquid at a specific temperature.

Synonyms

• Bottle: A container with a neck, typically made of glass or plastic.
• Decanter: A stoppered glass container into which wine or spirit is decanted.
• Phial: A small glass container, typically for medicine; a vial.

Related Phrases

• Flask-shaped (adj): Having the shape of a flask.
  • The plant had a flask-shaped bulb at its base.

Related Idioms

• "To be on the flask": (Informal, dated) To be drinking from a flask, often implying secretive or habitual drinking.
  • The old sailor was always on the flask.

Noun

1. the quantity a flask will hold
2. bottle that has a narrow neck