shaker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral. Common in everyday, culinary, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “shaker” mean?
A container, typically with a perforated top, used for shaking and sprinkling powdered or granular substances like salt, pepper, or sugar.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A container, typically with a perforated top, used for shaking and sprinkling powdered or granular substances like salt, pepper, or sugar.
1) A person or thing that shakes something. 2) A device, such as a cocktail shaker or protein shaker bottle, used for mixing liquids by shaking. 3) A member of a 19th-century Christian sect known for ecstatic dancing and simple, functional design.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning and usage are identical. Spelling is the same.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries neutral, functional connotations. The historical/religious sense ('Shaker') is equally recognized.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects, with high frequency in domestic and hospitality contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “shaker” in a Sentence
[adjective] + shakershaker + of + [noun (substance)]shaker + for + [noun (purpose)]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shaker” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- They admired the clean lines of the Shaker furniture.
- The village has a Shaker heritage site.
American English
- She collects Shaker-style boxes.
- The room had a Shaker simplicity to it.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in product descriptions for kitchenware or bar supplies, or in the idiom 'mover and shaker'.
Academic
Appears in historical/social studies regarding the Shaker religious movement and its cultural impact.
Everyday
Very common, referring to kitchen utensils and drink preparation.
Technical
Used in engineering for devices that impart vibration (e.g., a test shaker for stress analysis).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shaker”
- Using 'shaker' to refer to an electric blender or mixer.
- Capitalising 'shaker' when referring to the utensil (only capitalise for the religious sect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While commonly associated with salt and pepper, it can refer to any container designed for shaking out contents, such as for sugar, spices, cocktail ingredients, or protein powder.
A shaker typically implies manual agitation by shaking, often in a sealed container. A mixer often refers to an electric appliance that uses blades or beaters (like a stand mixer or blender) to combine ingredients.
The name derives from their worship practices, which involved ecstatic trembling, shaking, and dancing, which they believed were caused by the Holy Spirit.
No, 'shaker' is a noun. The related verb is 'to shake'. For example, 'Shake the cocktail shaker vigorously.'
A container, typically with a perforated top, used for shaking and sprinkling powdered or granular substances like salt, pepper, or sugar.
Shaker is usually neutral. common in everyday, culinary, and technical contexts. in register.
Shaker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈʃeɪkə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈʃeɪkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “mover and shaker (an influential person)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A SHAKER is used to SHAKE things out of it.
Conceptual Metaphor
TOOL FOR TRANSFORMATION (mixing ingredients into a new state) / TOOL FOR DISPERSAL (scattering contents).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'shaker' NOT typically refer to a container for dispensing a substance?