chemist

Everyday

1. A chemist is a scientist who studies chemistry: what substances are made of and how they change. tree →
2. In British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand English a chemist is a person who prepares and sells medicines, and «the chemist's» is the shop where you buy them. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons a chemist mixes substances, measures and records results safely. In everyday British life you go «to the chemist's» for plasters, medicine and toothpaste; Americans say «drugstore» or «pharmacy» and «pharmacist». Phrases: go to the chemist's, a research chemist, the chemist on the corner.

Examples

• A chemist studies how substances react with each other. tree →
• Marie Curie was a famous chemist and physicist. tree →
• Mum went to the chemist's to buy cough medicine. tree →
• The chemist told us how many spoonfuls to take. tree →
• The chemist wore goggles and gloves in the lab. tree →
• Is there a chemist near the station? tree →
• When I grow up, I want to be a chemist. tree →
• But then this wonderful ointment could not be bought at a chemist's. tree →

Note

Countable: a chemist, chemists. «Ch» sounds like «k»: KEM-ist. British «the chemist's» = American «the drugstore/pharmacy». Do not confuse with «chemistry» (the subject) or «chemical» (a substance).