liquor

[lik-er or for 3, lik-wawr] /ˈlɪk ər or for 3, ˈlɪk wɔr/

noun

a distilled or spirituous beverage, as brandy or whiskey, as distinguished from a fermented beverage, as wine or beer.

any liquid substance, as broth from cooked meats or vegetables.

Pharmacology, solution (def 6).

a solution of a substance, especially a concentrated one used in the industrial arts.

verb (used with object)

Informal. to furnish or ply with liquor to drink (often followed by up).

verb (used without object)

Informal. to drink large quantities of liquor (often followed by up).

Origin

1175-1225; < Latin: a liquid, orig. liquidity (liqu(ēre) to be liquid + -or -or¹); replacing Middle English lic(o)ur < Old French (French liqueur) < Latin liquōrem, accusative of liquor

Related forms

liquory, adjective

antiliquor, adjective

Can be confused

liqueur, liquor.

Synonyms

2. juice, drippings.

Examples from the web for liquor

People can make their own liquor in their own stills, their own beer and their own wine.
liquor can only be bought from state-owned and controlled stores.
Outside a liquor store, a policeman pats down a suspect.
For anything else you go to the liquor store across the lot.
Today, making your own liquor is as illegal as ever, and a lot less lucrative.
Send people out to a liquor store or grocery store for more ice.
Add your favorite clear liquor until the coin reappears.
He has corresponded with other amateur liquor historians.
And of course you go to the liquor store to pick up some beer.
Appleseed was really a liquor distributor rather than a free spirit with a pot on his head.

British Dictionary definitions for liquor

liquor

/ˈlɪkə/

noun

any alcoholic drink, esp spirits, or such drinks collectively

any liquid substance, esp that in which food has been cooked

(pharmacol) a solution of a pure substance in water

(brewing) warm water added to malt to form wort

in liquor, drunk; intoxicated

verb

(brewing) to steep (malt) in warm water to form wort; mash

Word Origin

C13: via Old French from Latin, from liquēre to be liquid

Word Origin and History for liquor

c.1200, likur "any matter in a liquid state," from Old French licor "fluid, liquid; sap; oil" (Modern French liqueur), from Latin liquorem (nominative liquor) "liquidity, fluidity," also "a liquid, the sea," from liquere "be fluid, liquid" (see liquid (adj.)). Narrowed sense of "fermented or distilled drink" (especially wine) first recorded c.1300. To liquor up "get drunk" is from 1845. The form in English has been assimilated to Latin, but the pronunciation has not changed.

liquor in Medicine

liquor liq·uor (lĭk'ər)
n.

An aqueous solution, especially of a medicinal substance.
An alcoholic beverage made by distillation rather than by fermentation.
(lī'kwôr, lĭk'wôr) In anatomical nomenclature, a term for any of several body fluids.

Slang definitions & phrases for liquor

liquor

Related Terms

hard liquor, pot liquor