# bottle

/ˈbɑtəɫ/ (US) · /bˈɒtəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bottle
Updated: 2026-04-30

## Senses

### 1. container for liquid

noun · CEFR A1

a glass or plastic container with a narrow neck used for holding liquids.

For teachers: a rigid container, typically glass or plastic, featuring a narrow neck and used for the storage of liquids.

- He opened a bottle of cold water after finishing his long run.
- The laboratory technician carefully transferred the chemical solution into a glass bottle to prevent contamination from the plastic containers.

### 2. baby's feeding tool

noun · CEFR A2

a special container with a rubber top used to feed milk to a baby.

For teachers: a vessel equipped with a teat or nipple, specifically designed for the artificial feeding of infants.

- The baby fell asleep while drinking his warm milk from the bottle.
- Pediatricians often advise parents on the proper sterilization of the bottle to ensure the infant's health during the first few months.

### 3. courage

noun · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

the bravery or nerve needed to do something difficult or scary.

For teachers: the courage, nerve, or spirit required to undertake a challenging or dangerous task.

- He wanted to ask her on a date but he lost his bottle at the last minute.
- Despite his initial bravado, the young climber lost his bottle when he looked down from the sheer cliff face.

### 4. alcohol

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a way to talk about drinking too much alcohol.

For teachers: a metonymic reference to intoxicating liquor or the habit of drinking alcohol to excess.

- He has been hitting the bottle again since he lost his job.
- The protagonist's struggle with the bottle serves as a central theme throughout the second act of the play.

### 5. to put in bottles

verb · CEFR B1

to put a liquid into bottles so it can be sold or kept for later.

For teachers: to place a liquid into bottles for preservation, storage, or commercial distribution.

- The farm bottles its own apple juice to sell at the local market.
- The brewery bottles thousands of liters of craft ale every hour using a highly automated production line.

### 6. to lose one's nerve

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

to fail to do something because you suddenly become too afraid.

For teachers: to fail to perform or complete an action due to a sudden loss of confidence or courage.

- The striker was about to take the penalty but he bottled it.
- The candidate was expected to challenge the leader during the debate, but he bottled it when the cameras started rolling.

### 7. to lose a lead

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang

to lose a game or competition after being in a winning position.

For teachers: to fail to maintain a leading position in a sporting event or competition, resulting in a loss.

- The team was winning three-zero but they bottled the final ten minutes.
- Critics argued that the team bottled the championship by losing three consecutive games against much weaker opponents.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.