A bottle is a narrow-necked container that holds liquids or semiliquids, usually having a cap to prevent spillage and evaporation. A glass bottle can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes, although the most common are squat with straight sides and a rounded or flat shoulder. Glass bottles are blown into shape through hot glass blowing, which can produce very thin walls and narrow necks. Plastic bottles are typically molded through injection or extrusion blow molding. Bottles can be produced in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and are often manufactured in a range of plastics, from the relatively sturdy PET (polyethylene terephthalate) to the less durable polypropylene.
There are also many uses for glass and plastic bottles, including food packaging, laboratory glassware and cooking appliances, and fibre optic telecommunications multiplexers and switches. The glass used for bottled water is usually soda-lime glass, which has low sodium content and is strong enough to resist dents or cracks. The bottles used for sparkling wines and Champagne are typically sturdier still, with thicker and wider construction that is designed to withstand the pressure of carbonation.
The term bottle is also used figuratively in several ways, with the most common being as a synonym for courage or nerve. It is used as such in the phrase “give me a bottle of your finest”, which is also used to describe someone who has a nervous disposition or is on edge. A bottle can also be used as an improvised stabbing weapon, especially in self-defense.
Is that Episode a Bottle Episode?
As the popularity of television series has grown, so too has the use of the phrase bottle episode to refer to episodes that deviate from standard formats and often feature a limited cast. The episode of the X-Files called “Ice” is an example of this; it features a monster, a limited cast and a lengthy arc that would be difficult to execute in a live-action setting.
A bottle is also a unit of measurement used in the brewing industry, referring to the volume of the contents. The smallest capacity is a pint, which is used for beer, while the largest capacity is a gallon, which is used for juice and other soft drinks. A bottle can be made of glass, plastic or some other material and may be clear, tinted or opaque.
There are four primary types of plastics used to make bottles: PET, PP, LDPE and PVC. LDPE and PP are the most commonly used, with LDPE being the most flexible and able to withstand a variety of chemicals, while PP is primarily used for milk and other dairy products. The resin identification code 2 for a bottle means it is LDPE and has good resistance to vinegar, alcohols, salt solutions and oil, but not solvents or ketones. Plastics such as PVC and vinyl are not so resistant, but can be recycled if they are not made of virgin materials.