A bottle is a container made of an impermeable material in various shapes and sizes used to store and transport liquids. Its mouth is typically closed with a cap or other closure, which allows for easy handling and pouring of its contents. Bottles can be made of glass or plastic and are commonly used in the storage of beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and other household products. Bottles can be round, square, or rectangular in shape and may have a narrow neck and wide body or base, or they can be oval in shape with a broad shoulder. They can be single-use or multi-use, and can be a variety of colors and finishes.
The word bottle is also used to refer to a person who bottles his or her own drinks or other liquids. This activity is often referred to as moonshine, and the practice of bottling one’s own drink has been a popular activity in the United States since the 1920s. In recent years, however, the popularity of bottles as a drinking vessel has declined significantly, due in large part to increased awareness about the health risks associated with drinking alcohol from untreated containers.
Bottles can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, from wine bottles to soda cans. They can be transparent, translucent, or colored and can have a wide range of finishes and closures. Bottles are a key component of the recycling economy, where they can be recycled for new uses or broken down into smaller components and materials. Bottles can be made of glass, plastic, or aluminum and are often made with a narrow neck that allows for easy gripping and pouring.
Formed from molten silica sand, glass is an inorganic solid material that appears solid on the human time scale but that over long periods of time relaxes towards a crystalline structure. Glass is a very durable material that has been used in practical and decorative objects since ancient times. Glassmakers can manipulate its properties by cooling it quickly, forming a desirable range of glass types with distinct characteristics.
Heel (insweep) – The point of lowest vertical tangency of the body. The heel terminates at the resting point of the base, which is typically the extreme outer edge of the base. See Bottle Bases & Mold Seams page for more details.
