Glossary

Laboratory Tools

This glossary aims to save researchers time by listing all the tools that can be used in the laboratory.

barometer

noun

An instrument measuring atmospheric pressure, used especially in forecasting the weather and determining altitude.

Example: People have been using barometers for weather forecasting and research purposes.

fr: baromètre

beaker

noun

a lipped cylindrical glass container for laboratory use.

Example: Within 24 h of being transferred to the laboratory, snails were examined individually in beakers of water for emerged or emerging cercariae, the morphology and behaviour of which were noted.

fr: bécher

erlenmeyer

noun

A flat-bottomed conical laboratory flask.

Example: The cracking of the flask provides an illustration.

fr: erlenmeyer

funnel

noun

A tube or pipe that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for guiding liquid or powder into a small opening.

Example: Any coarse material that had fallen into the funnels was regularly removed by hand.

fr: entonnoir

dropper

noun

A small tube with a rubber container at one end that is filled with air and allows liquid to be given out in separate drops.

Example: The dropper must not touch the inside.

fr: eprouvette

thermometer

noun

A device used for measuring temperature, especially of the air or in a person's body.

Example: I would certainly need kites or tethered balloons to carry thermometers and barometers up into the air.

fr: thermomètre

spatula

noun

An implement with a broad, flat, blunt blade, used for mixing and spreading things, especially in cooking and painting.

Example: Only a wooden spatula is needed.

fr: spatule

buret

noun

A graduated glass tube with a tap at one end, for delivering known volumes of a liquid, especially in titrations.

Example: The water was supplied through a short flexible tube from a burette.

fr: burette

balance

noun

A device used for weighing things, consisting of two dishes hanging on a bar that shows when the contents of both dishes weigh the same.

Example: I weighed 5 kilos on a balance.

fr: balance

microscope

noun

A device that uses lenses to make very small objects look larger, so that they can be scientifically examined and studied:.

Example: They looked at the blood samples under the microscope.

fr: microscope

pipette

noun

A thin glass tube used especially in biology and chemistry for measuring or moving a small amount of liquid.

Example: This was beneficial for the repeated use of a single pipette.

fr: pipette

centrifuge

noun

A machine that turns a container round very quickly, causing the solids and liquids inside it to separate by centrifugal action.

Example: The homogenate was centrifuged and the supernatant concentrated to 500 mg/ml as before.

fr: Centrifugeuse

spectrometer

noun

A piece of equipment that scientists use to record and measure spectra (= the set of colours into which a beam of light can be separated, or a range of waves, such as light waves or radio waves).

Example: They used a spectrometer to analyse the frequency of radiation reflected from the surface of Mars.

fr: spectromètre

pump

noun

A piece of equipment that is used to cause liquid, air, or gas to move from one place to another:.

Example: The pump is powered by a small electric motor.

fr: pompe

filter

noun

Any of several types of equipment or devices for removing solids from liquids or gases, or for removing particular types of light.

Example: There's a filter that makes all your pictures look like old sepia photographs.

fr: filtre

tongs

noun

A device used for picking up objects, consisting of two long pieces joined at one end and pressed together at the other end in order to hold an object between them.

Example: She moved the smoldering logs around in the fireplace with a set of tongs.

fr: pince

condenser

noun

A piece of equipment that reduces gases to their liquid or solid form.

Example: Namely, the concept is composed of a condenser, a compressor, an expansion valve, and an evaporator.

fr: condensateur

burner

noun

A person or thing that burns.

Example: Also, local propane companies subsidized investments in propane burners.

fr: Brûleur

clamp

noun

A device made of wood or metal that is used to hold two things together tightly.

Example: Carefully tighten the clamp until it firmly supports the pipette in a vertical position.

fr: attache

forceps

noun

A metal instrument with two handles used in medical operations for picking up, pulling, and holding things.

Example: A doctor always has his forceps.

fr: forceps

This glossary was made with the Virtual Writing Tutor glossary maker and grammar checker.