Round-Bottom Flask

/round-BOT-tum flask/ · n.

1. A laboratory vessel characterized by its perfectly spherical lower portion, designed for uniform heating and fluid dynamics. Its ample curvature ensures contents are mixed with the enthusiasm of a chemistry major on caffeine.

2. colloq. A glass apparatus that won't sit still without a stand, showing off its rotundity with shameless symmetry. Back that thing up, it's all in the base.

Etymology. From Middle English 'round' (of circular form) + 'bottom' (underside) + 'flask' (vessel for liquids). As for its spherical audacity, blame the alchemists.

She placed a thiccc round-bottom flask on the burner, and the lab assistant's eyebrows raised in synchrony. The curvature was the talk of the semester.

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Photo by Daniel Öberg on Unsplash.