A beaker is a wide-mouthed glass or plastic container used in science labs for mixing, heating, and measuring liquids. Beakers have flat bottoms so they sit steady on a lab table, and they usually have a small pouring spout on the rim. Most beakers have measurement lines printed on the side, though scientists use them more for rough estimates than precise measurements (for that, they'd use something called a graduated cylinder).

You'll find beakers in chemistry and biology labs, where scientists might use them to mix chemicals, grow bacterial cultures, or hold liquids while conducting experiments. The glass ones can be heated directly over a flame using a tool called a Bunsen burner. When you picture a scientist at work, you're probably imagining someone in a white coat surrounded by beakers filled with colorful liquids.