bottle
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1 container for liquid (n.) A1 Beginnera glass or plastic container with a narrow neck used for holding liquids.
a rigid container, typically glass or plastic, featuring a narrow neck and used for the storage of liquids.
ExampleHe opened a bottle of cold water after finishing his long run.
ExampleThe laboratory technician carefully transferred the chemical solution into a glass bottle to prevent contamination from the plastic containers.
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2 baby's feeding tool (n.) A2 Elementarya special container with a rubber top used to feed milk to a baby.
a vessel equipped with a teat or nipple, specifically designed for the artificial feeding of infants.
ExampleThe baby fell asleep while drinking his warm milk from the bottle.
ExamplePediatricians often advise parents on the proper sterilization of the bottle to ensure the infant's health during the first few months.
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3 courage (n.) B2 Upper Intermediate British English Informalthe bravery or nerve needed to do something difficult or scary.
the courage, nerve, or spirit required to undertake a challenging or dangerous task.
ExampleHe wanted to ask her on a date but he lost his bottle at the last minute.
ExampleDespite his initial bravado, the young climber lost his bottle when he looked down from the sheer cliff face.
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4 alcohol (n.) C1 Advanced Informala way to talk about drinking too much alcohol.
a metonymic reference to intoxicating liquor or the habit of drinking alcohol to excess.
ExampleHe has been hitting the bottle again since he lost his job.
ExampleThe protagonist's struggle with the bottle serves as a central theme throughout the second act of the play.
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5 to put in bottles (v.) B1 Intermediateto put a liquid into bottles so it can be sold or kept for later.
to place a liquid into bottles for preservation, storage, or commercial distribution.
ExampleThe farm bottles its own apple juice to sell at the local market.
ExampleThe brewery bottles thousands of liters of craft ale every hour using a highly automated production line.
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6 to lose one's nerve (v.) C1 Advanced British English Slangto fail to do something because you suddenly become too afraid.
to fail to perform or complete an action due to a sudden loss of confidence or courage.
ExampleThe striker was about to take the penalty but he bottled it.
ExampleThe candidate was expected to challenge the leader during the debate, but he bottled it when the cameras started rolling.
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7 to lose a lead (v.) C1 Advanced British English Slang Sportto lose a game or competition after being in a winning position.
to fail to maintain a leading position in a sporting event or competition, resulting in a loss.
ExampleThe team was winning three-zero but they bottled the final ten minutes.
ExampleCritics argued that the team bottled the championship by losing three consecutive games against much weaker opponents.
Etymology tree Latin buttis Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Italic *-elos Latin -ulus Latin -culus Late Latin butticula Old French boteillebor. Middle English botel English bottle From Middle English botel (“bottle, flask, wineskin”), from Old French boteille, from Late Latin butticula, diminutive of buttis (“cask”). Doublet of botija. Displaced native pinne and non-native Old English ampella. Broadly overtook Old English flasce.
From Middle English bottle, botel, buttle, from Old English botl (“building, house”), from Proto-West Germanic bōþl, from Proto-Germanic budlą, buþlą, bōþlą (“house, dwelling, farm”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰōw- (literally “to swell, grow, thrive, be, live, dwell”). Cognate with North Frisian budel, bodel, bol, boel (“dwelling, inheritable property”), Dutch boedel, boel (“inheritance, estate”), Danish bol (“farm”), Icelandic ból (“dwelling, abode, farm, lair”). Related to Old English bytlan (“to build”). More at build.
From Middle English botel (“bundle (of hay)”), from Old French botel, ultimately related to modern French botte (“bundle”).