bitters

[ bit-erz ]
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noun(used with a plural verb)
  1. a liquid, often an alcoholic liquor, in which bitter herbs or roots have steeped, used as a flavoring, especially in mixed drinks, or as a tonic.

  2. Pharmacology.

    • a liquid, usually alcoholic, impregnated with a bitter medicine, as gentian or quassia, used to increase the appetite or as a tonic.

    • bitter medicinal substances in general, as quinine.

Origin of bitters

1
First recorded in 1705–15; bitter + -s3

Words Nearby bitters

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use bitters in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bitters

bitters

/ (ˈbɪtəz) /


pl n
  1. bitter-tasting spirits of varying alcoholic content flavoured with plant extracts

  2. a similar liquid containing a bitter-tasting substance, used as a tonic to stimulate the appetite or improve digestion

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