liquid

[lik-wid] /ˈlɪk wɪd/

adjective

composed of molecules that move freely among themselves but do not tend to separate like those of gases; neither gaseous nor solid.

of, pertaining to, or consisting of liquids:

a liquid diet.

flowing like water.

clear, transparent, or bright:

liquid eyes.

(of sounds, tones, etc.) smooth; agreeable; flowing freely:

the liquid voice of a trained orator.

in cash or readily convertible into cash without significant loss of principal:

liquid assets.

Phonetics. characterizing a frictionless speech sound pronounced with only a partial obstruction of the breath stream and whose utterance can be prolonged as that of a vowel, especially l and r.

(of movements, gestures, etc.) graceful; smooth; free and unconstricted:

the ballerina's liquid arabesques.

noun

a liquid substance.

10.

Phonetics. either r or l, and sometimes m, n, ng.

Origin

1350-1400; Middle English liquyd < Latin liquidus, equivalent to liqu(ēre) to be liquid + -idus -id⁴

Related forms

liquidly, adverb

liquidness, noun

nonliquid, adjective, noun

nonliquidly, adverb

unliquid, adjective

Can be confused

fluid, gas, liquid (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonyms

1. Liquid, fluid agree in referring to matter that is not solid. Liquid commonly refers to substances, as water, oil, alcohol, and the like, that are neither solids nor gases: Water ceases to be a liquid when it is frozen or turned to steam. Fluid is applied to anything that flows, whether liquid or gaseous: Pipes can carry fluids from place to place.

Examples from the web for liquid

He worked a hand pump on the inside and leaned his head out to make sure the liquid gold was flowing.
When the time comes, pour off all of the liquid, and use the tomatoes as one of your toppings in lieu of tomato sauce.
Carefully pour hot saffron liquid over rice and scatter chorizo on top.
Two mirrors, some paint, and liquid silver leaf were all that was needed to bring some style to this side table.
Julia waters them through the growing season and feeds them with liquid fertilizer every other week.
Add specified liquid and other seasonings, cover, and bring to a boil over high heat.
For particularly stubborn ones, try adding a bit more hot liquid to ease them out while you whisk.
Tip pan and spoon off any excess liquid with a small spoon.
Apply half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks.
The dark liquid absorbs solar heat during the day and releases it at night.

British Dictionary definitions for liquid

liquid

/ˈlɪkwɪd/

noun

a substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of shape but does resist change of size Compare gas (sense 1), solid (sense 1)

a substance that is a liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure

(phonetics) a frictionless continuant, esp (l) or (r)

adjective

of, concerned with, or being a liquid or having the characteristic state of liquids: liquid wax

shining, transparent, or brilliant

flowing, fluent, or smooth

(of assets) in the form of money or easily convertible into money

Derived Forms

liquidly, adverb
liquidness, noun

Word Origin

C14: via Old French from Latin liquidus, from liquēre to be fluid

Word Origin and History for liquid

adj.

late 14c., from Old French liquide "liquid, running," from Latin liquidus "fluid, liquid, moist," figuratively "flowing, continuing," from liquere "be fluid," related to liqui "to melt, flow," from PIE *wleik- "to flow, run." Of sounds, from 1630s (the Latin word also was used of sounds). Financial sense of "capable of being converted to cash" is first recorded 1818.

"a liquid substance," 1709, from liquid (adj.). Earlier it meant "sound of a liquid consonant" (1520s).

liquid in Medicine

liquid liq·uid (lĭk'wĭd)
n.

The state of matter in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow, little or no tendency to disperse, and relatively high incompressibility.
Matter or a specific body of matter in this state.

adj.

Of or being a liquid.
Having been liquefied, especially melted by heating or condensed by cooling.
Flowing readily; fluid.

liq'uid·ly adv.
liq'uid·ness n.

liquid in Science

liquid

(lĭk'wĭd)
One of four main states of matter, composed of molecules that can move about in a substance but are bound loosely together by intramolecular forces. Unlike a solid, a liquid has no fixed shape, but instead has a characteristic readiness to flow and therefore takes on the shape of any container. Because pressure transmitted at one point is passed on to other points, a liquid usually has a volume that remains constant or changes only slightly under pressure, unlike a gas.

liquid in Culture

liquid definition

A phase of matter in which atoms or molecules can move freely while remaining in contact with one another. A liquid takes the shape of its container. (Compare gas and solid.)