A jug is a container with a handle and a narrow opening or spout for pouring liquids. Think of a milk jug in your refrigerator or a ceramic pitcher of lemonade on a picnic table. Jugs come in all sizes and materials: glass, plastic, clay, or metal. They're designed to make pouring easy while keeping most of the liquid safely inside.

The shape of a jug matters. That narrow neck or spout lets you control the flow when you pour, while the wide body holds plenty of liquid. A maple syrup jug might hold a gallon, while a small cream jug at a coffee shop holds just a few ounces. Some jugs have lids to keep the contents fresh; others stay open.

People have used jugs for thousands of years. Ancient Greek and Roman jugs, called amphorae, carried wine and olive oil across the Mediterranean. Colonial Americans stored cider and water in stoneware jugs. Today you might fill a jug with water for a long hike or use a decorative jug as a vase for flowers.

In music, jug also refers to a makeshift instrument: musicians blow across the opening of an empty jug to create a deep, resonant sound, like the bass notes in old-time jug bands.