# beaker

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈbiːkə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #36,882

## Definitions
1. A flat-bottomed, straight-sided, glass vessel, with a lip and often a small spout, used as a laboratory container.
2. A drinking vessel without a handle.
3. A mug.
4. An ancient bell-shaped ceramic pot with a wide mouth, narrow neck, and flaring body, used by the Beaker people during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.
5. A scientist.

## Etymology
From Middle English bekyr, biker, from Old Norse bikarr (“cup”), from Old Saxon bikeri (“cup”), from Proto-West Germanic *bikārī, from Late Latin bīcārium (“wine vat, jug”), of disputed origin. Possibly from Ancient Greek βῖκος (bîkos, “earthenware jug, wine jar”), or from Latin bacarium (“wine vat, vase”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Bieker (“mug, cup, beaker”), Dutch beker (“beaker, cup”), German Becher (“beaker, cup, goblet”), Danish bæger (“beaker”), Italian bicchiere (“cup, glass (for drink)”). Doublet of pitcher.

## Easily confused with
- **bear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-bear)
- **beer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beer)
- **blake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-blake)
- **brake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-brake)
- **biker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-biker)
- **beaks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beaks)
- **better** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-better)
- **beaten** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beaten)
- **brakes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-brakes)
- **broker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-broker)
- **bunker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-bunker)
- **beaver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beaver)
- **booker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-booker)
- **Becker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-becker)
- **bearer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-bearer)
- **bender** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-bender)
- **blazer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-blazer)
- **beater** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beater)
- **beamed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-beamed)
- **braver** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/beaker-vs-braver)

## Common misspellings (8)
`baeker`, `bbeaker`, `beaekr`, `beakerr`, `beakker`, `beakre`, `bekaer`, `ebaker`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beaker