Beer

¹ American  

[beer] / bɪər /

noun

1. Thomas, 1889–1940, U.S. author.

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beer ² American  

[beer] / bɪər /

noun

1. an alcoholic beverage made by brewing and fermentation from cereals, usually malted barley, and flavored with hops and the like for a slightly bitter taste.

2. any of various beverages, whether alcoholic or not, made from roots, molasses or sugar, yeast, etc..

   root beer; ginger beer.

3. an individual serving of beer; a glass, can, or bottle of beer.

   We'll have three beers.

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beer British  

/ bɪə /

noun

1. an alcoholic drink brewed from malt, sugar, hops, and water and fermented with yeast Compare ale

2. a slightly fermented drink made from the roots or leaves of certain plants

   ginger beer

   nettle beer

3. (modifier) relating to or used in the drinking of beer

   beer glass

   beer mat

4. (modifier) in which beer is drunk, esp (of licensed premises) having a licence to sell beer

   beer house

   beer cellar

   beer garden

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Etymology

Origin of beer

First recorded before 1000; Middle English bere, Old English bēor; cognate with Old Saxon, Old High German bior, Middle Low German, Middle Dutch bēr, Dutch, German Bier ( Old Norse bjōrr, probably from Old English); further origin uncertain

Example Sentences

There used to be places where burgers, salads and draft beers, the midbrow fare that’s in my sweet spot, could seem like a pretty good deal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Health screenings, weight-loss meds and better-for-you beverages will take center stage in Super Bowl commercials Sunday, commanding a spotlight once dominated by beer and junk food.

From The Wall Street Journal

Australian undercover inspectors have found pubs fail to pour enough beer and other alcohol into customers' glasses for nearly a third of the drinks they serve.

From Barron's

His performance is pure puppy, from the way he silently studies Ray’s silent cues to the eagerness with which he leaps up to fetch Ray a beer.

From Los Angeles Times

I would have liked a root beer along about then, but I didn’t have a nickel to buy one.

From Literature