BEAKER, a large, wide-mouthed drinking-cup, supported on a flaring base or foot ; also, a deep vessel of glass, with a project ing lip, used in laboratories. The beaker, used as a drinking-ves sel, was perhaps more popular in the 16th century than at any other period. Various designs in metals that lent themselves to decorations were common. The laboratory type is better known at present—a plain, deep, thin vessel of glass, or sometimes cop per or porcelain, with a projecting lip. See DRINKING-VESSELS.