bottle

1 of 2

noun

bot·​tle ˈbä-tᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or plastic having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth and usually no handle
b
: a usually bottle-shaped container made of skin for storing a liquid
2
: the quantity held by a bottle
3
a
: intoxicating drink : the practice of drinking
slipped deeper and deeper into the bottleAnne Bernays
b
: liquid food (such as milk) used in place of mother's milk
4
British slang : mettle, courage
bottleful noun

bottle

2 of 2

verb

bottled; bottling ˈbä-tᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce bottle (audio)
ˈbät-liŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to confine as if in a bottle : restrain
usually used with up
bottling up their anger
b
: to put or keep in a position or situation that makes free activity, progress, or escape difficult or impossible
usually used with up
bottle up legislation in committee
2
: to put into or as if into a bottle
wished she could bottle their energy
bottler
ˈbä-tᵊl-ər How to pronounce bottle (audio)
ˈbät-lər
noun

Examples of bottle in a Sentence

Noun We drank a bottle of wine. He says he's lost too many years to the bottle, and that he's giving up alcohol. Her struggles with the bottle affected her entire family. Has the baby finished her bottle yet? raised on a bottle instead of breast milk Verb The restaurant bottles its own ginger ale. Near the top of the mountain, the climbers relied on bottled oxygen to breathe.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
However, just like the elevated incense and holiday body butter, the Elevate fragrance is an exclusive which means it is limited to only 300 bottles before selling out. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 15 Mar. 2024 On the table next to the chair were several items, including two small bottles of liquor, a pack of cigarettes and his ticket. William Earl, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 The couple, who own Gemstone Vineyards, designed the walk-in wine cellar to stash and showcase their favorite bottles. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 This year, host Jimmy Kimmel gifted guests snack boxes containing a soft pretzel and mustard, a bottle of water, and a box of candy, which varied from Mike and Ikes to Milk Duds. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024 Your task is to amass enough jackpot symbols to fill one of these bottles, triggering the corresponding jackpot. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Who knew that plastic bottles could be transformed into super-soft polar fleece? Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024 Those bottles will be available at Macy’s for $40 each. Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2024 Cox purchased 60 bottles of Cabernet Franc from Antinori Napa Valley, one of seven offerings produced using the variety. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024
Verb
The whiskey was bottled at 100 proof, and tasting notes describe a dark-espresso and chocolate character thanks to that midnight wheat, a grain often used to make stout and porter beer. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2024 The limited edition 2016 vintage is bottled at 121 proof, commemorating both the 69th Kentucky Derby Festival and the 52nd year of the Pegasus Pin. The Courier-Journal, 13 Mar. 2024 The closest age and vintage in an official bottling is the 1990s 30-year old, which will cost you over three times the amount of the First Cask version, at almost $9,000. Mark Littler, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The new soda was a smash hit, particularly in the South thanks to pitchmen like NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt and bottling plants in North Carolina and Tennessee. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2024 Regular Bernheim carries a seven-year-old age statement and is bottled at 90 proof; the barrel-proof version is aged between seven and nine years and bottled at cask strength. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 3 Mar. 2024 Aged for at least 22 years in a mix of European oak, American oak, and Oloroso sherry casks, it’s bottled at 51% ABV. Tony Sachs, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Some products like bottle warmers or insulated bags are not designed to hold these wide bottles, so check reviews and manufacturer info before buying those. Laura Lu, Ms, Parents, 19 Feb. 2024 Siakam bottled him up at halfcourt right before the half and forced him to the floor to prevent a turnover right before the end of the half, and his physical play got Durant at least a little bit rattled. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bottle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English botel, from Old French botele, from Medieval Latin butticula, diminutive of Late Latin buttis cask

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bottle was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bottle

Cite this Entry

“Bottle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bottle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bottle

1 of 2 noun
bot·​tle ˈbät-ᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
1
a
: a container (as of glass or plastic) with a narrow neck and mouth and usually no handle
b
: a bag made of skin used to hold a liquid
2
: the quantity held by a bottle
3
: a bottle with a rubber or plastic nipple for feeding an infant
bottleful noun

bottle

2 of 2 verb
bottled; bottling ˈbät-liŋ How to pronounce bottle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to put into a bottle
2
: to shut up as if in a bottle : restrain
bottled up their anger
bottler
-lər How to pronounce bottle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

Medical Definition

bottle

noun
bot·​tle ˈbät-ᵊl How to pronounce bottle (audio)
often attributive
1
: a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or plastic having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth and usually no handle see wash bottle
2
: liquid food usually consisting of milk and supplements that is fed from a bottle (as to an infant) in place of mother's milk

More from Merriam-Webster on bottle

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