test-tube

1 of 2

adjective

1
: in vitro
test-tube experiments
2
: produced by in vitro fertilization
test-tube babies

test tube

2 of 2

noun

: a plain or lipped tube usually of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology

Examples of test-tube in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The world’s first test-tube baby was Louise Brown, born in England three years earlier. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2025 May Protect Against Cancer Some test-tube and animal studies suggest that compounds found in wasabi, including isothiocyanates, may help slow the growth of cancer cells. Lindsey Desoto, Health, 17 Dec. 2025
Noun
Hirakawa's team argue that their research is the first time that RNA has been produced in the lab without humans getting involved, although critics argue that even the act of putting all the building blocks of RNA together in a test tube is a human intervention. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 5 Jan. 2026 The Estate Collection by the Glass Gift Set from Daou Vineyards, for example, offers three luxury red blends in 100-milliliter bottles, which look a bit like test tubes. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for test-tube

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of test-tube was in 1846

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Test-tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/test-tube. Accessed 6 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

test tube

noun
: a tube of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology

Medical Definition

test-tube

1 of 2 adjective
1
: in vitro
test-tube experiments
2
: produced by in vitro fertilization
test-tube babies

test tube

2 of 2 noun
: a plain or lipped tube usually of thin glass closed at one end and used especially in chemistry and biology
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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