Meaning & use
a pipette
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalspecialist
A thin tube used in laboratories to measure and move small amounts of liquid.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a pipette' for one, 'pipettes' for more than one.
Patterns
- use a pipette
- a pipette with a rubber bulb
The scientist used a pipette to add a few drops of acid to the mixture.
Always rinse the pipette with distilled water after each use.
She carefully squeezed the bulb of the pipette to draw up the liquid.
Word forms
| plural | pipettes |
|---|
Common combinations
- use a pipette
- Students learn to use a pipette accurately in chemistry lab.
- a pipette tip
- He threw away the used pipette tip and attached a clean one.
- a glass pipette
- The glass pipette broke when it fell on the floor.
- a pipette bulb
- Squeeze the pipette bulb gently to avoid splashing.
Synonyms and how they differ
- dropper
- A dropper is a simple tube with a rubber top for adding drops, often used in medicine; a pipette is more precise and used in labs.
Word family
- pipette verb
- To move liquid using a pipette (e.g., 'pipette the solution into the tube').
Commonly confused: a pipette or pipe?
a pipette vs pipe
A pipe is a tube for carrying water or gas; a pipette is a small lab tool for measuring liquid.
Practice
What is a pipette used for?
Choose one answer.
A pipette is a thin tube for measuring and moving small liquid amounts. It does not cut, heat, or handle large volumes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a pipette”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.