vinegar

[vin-i-ger] /ˈvɪn ɪ gər/
noun
1.
a sour liquid consisting of dilute and impure acetic acid, obtained by acetous fermentation from wine, cider, beer, ale, or the like: used as a condiment, preservative, etc.
2.
Pharmacology. a solution of a medicinal substance in dilute acetic acid, or vinegar.
3.
sour or irritable speech, manner, or countenance:
a note of vinegar in his voice.
4.
Informal. vigor; high spirits; vim.
Origin
1250-1300; Middle English vinegre < Old French, equivalent to vin wine + egre, aigre sour (see eager1)
Related forms
vinegarlike, adjective
Examples from the web for vinegar
  • If it was too wet to light a fire, they had to subsist on hardtack biscuits and cold sowbelly doused in vinegar.
  • Infusing oil and vinegar is a great way to capture the flavor of fresh herbs without preserving the herbs themselves.
  • Left to its own devices, wine will eventually turn to vinegar.
  • If someone is exaggerating about such a place, he is said to be adding oil and vinegar.
  • But the sugar can be a lot more insidious than the vinegar.
  • It resisted not only nitric acid, but lemon juice and vinegar as well.
  • Thousands of movies are haphazardly neglected, turning into vinegar in shoddy warehouses.
  • Those committed to their long term health who also tensed their calf muscles were more likely to drink more of the vinegar.
  • Adding a half cup or so of vinegar to the rinse water will increase shine if that's the look you're going for.
  • Add drops of vinegar until you see the solution change color.
British Dictionary definitions for vinegar

vinegar

/ˈvɪnɪɡə/
noun
1.
a sour-tasting liquid consisting of impure dilute acetic acid, made by oxidation of the ethyl alcohol in beer, wine, or cider. It is used as a condiment or preservative
2.
sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc
3.
(pharmacol) a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid
4.
(US & Canadian, informal) vitality
verb
5.
(transitive) to apply vinegar to
Derived Forms
vinegarish, adjective
vinegar-like, adjective
Word Origin
C13: from Old French vinaigre, from vinwine + aigre sour, from Latin acer sharp
Word Origin and History for vinegar
n.

c.1300, from Old French vinaigre, from vin "wine" (from Latin vinum; see wine) + aigre "sour" (see eager). In Latin, it was vinum acetum "wine turned sour;" cf. also Greek oxos "wine vinegar," which is related to oxys "sharp" (see acrid).

vinegar in Medicine

vinegar vin·e·gar (vĭn'ĭ-gər)
n.
An impure dilute solution of acetic acid obtained by fermentation beyond the alcohol stage and used as a preservative.

Slang definitions & phrases for vinegar

vinegar

Related Terms

full of piss and vinegar


vinegar in the Bible

Heb. hometz, Gr. oxos, Fr. vin aigre; i.e., "sour wine." The Hebrew word is rendered vinegar in Ps. 69:21, a prophecy fulfilled in the history of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:34). This was the common sour wine (posea) daily made use of by the Roman soldiers. They gave it to Christ, not in derision, but from compassion, to assuage his thirst. Prov. 10:26 shows that there was also a stronger vinegar, which was not fit for drinking. The comparison, "vinegar upon nitre," probably means "vinegar upon soda" (as in the marg. of the R.V.), which then effervesces.