test-tube

A scientist holds a test-tube up to the light.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Chemistry: A "test-tube" is a thin glass tube closed at one end, used in scientific experiments, especially for holding small amounts of substances during chemical reactions or tests.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The chemist carefully poured the solution into a test-tube. (A glass tube used for chemical experiments.)
  • Each test-tube was labeled with the name of the compound. (Each tube was marked for identification in the lab.)

Advanced Usage

• "test-tube baby": A baby conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), where the embryo is initially developed in a laboratory dish rather than inside the mother's body.
  • The first test-tube baby was born in 1978 in the United Kingdom. (A child conceived via IVF.)
  • Many couples now rely on test-tube technology to start families. (Assisted reproductive technology.)

Variants and Related Words

• Test-tube (adj): relating to or produced in a test-tube, often used metaphorically to describe something artificial or created in a controlled environment.
  • Test-tube experiments are essential for drug development. (Laboratory-based research.)

Synonyms

• Laboratory tube: a general term for a glass tube used in labs.
• Culture tube: a similar tube used for growing microorganisms.

Related Idioms

• Test-tube experiment: an experiment conducted in a controlled laboratory setting, often implying theoretical or simplified conditions.
  • This is just a test-tube experiment; real-world results may differ. (A simplified, controlled trial.)

Notes

• The term "test-tube" is often hyphenated when used as a compound adjective (e.g., "test-tube experiment") but may appear as two separate words ("test tube") in general usage.