[f. TEST sb.1 + TUBE.] A cylinder of thin transparent glass closed at one end, used to hold liquids under test. Also transf.
1846. G. E. Day, trans. Simon’s Anim. Chem., II. 176. The sediment must then be placed in a test-tube … and gradually raised to the boiling point.
1860. F. Winslow, Obscure Dis. Brain & Mind, viii. (L.). There is no possibility of the medical expert placing the diseased mental element in a psychological crucible or test-tube.
1888. Rutley, Rock-Forming Min., 6. The test-tube … is plunged into cold water.
b. attrib., as test-tube experiment; test-tube cultivation, culture, the raising of bacteria in a nutrient medium contained in a test-tube.
1886. H. M. Biggs, trans. Hueppe’s Bacteriol. Invest., 142. In order to do this, test-tube cultures are employed, in which … many peculiarities of growth can be better noted.
1899. Cagney, Jaksch’s Clin. Diagn., vi. (ed. 4), 212. The bactericidal power of such serum has been established by numerous test-tube-experiments. Ibid., x. 444. It is usually expedient to make plate and test-tube … cultivations together.
