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Chemistry vocabulary · Laboratory Equipment and Techniques

Graduated cylinder

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In chemistry, graduated cylinder means: A tall, narrow cylinder with volume markings on its side, used to measure liquids more accurately than a beaker but less accurately than a pipette or burette.

In Turkish: mezür, dereceli silindir

How it is used

Used for routine volumes, such as solvent for a reaction or for washing. You measure out a liquid, read the volume at the bottom of the meniscus and pour it out. British English calls it a measuring cylinder.

Example sentences

  1. Measure 50 mL of ethanol with a graduated cylinder.

  2. A graduated cylinder is fine for the washing solvent, but use a pipette for the sample.

Common collocations

  • 100 mL graduated cylinder
  • measuring cylinder
  • read the meniscus
  • measure out
  • beakerA simple cylindrical glass or plastic container with a flat bottom and a small spout, used for mixing, heating and holding liquids. Its volume marks are only approximate.
  • pipetteA thin glass or plastic tube used to measure and transfer a precise volume of liquid. Volumetric types deliver one fixed volume; micropipettes handle microliters.
  • volumetric flaskA pear-shaped flask with a long narrow neck and a single line marked on it. Filled to that line, it holds one exact volume, so it is used to prepare standard solutions.
  • buretteA long, graduated glass tube with a tap (stopcock) at the bottom, used to add a liquid gradually and measure exactly how much was added, mainly in titrations.

More terms: Laboratory Equipment and Techniques

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