liquid

[lik-wid]

adjective

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

2. of, relating to, or consisting of liquids.

   a liquid diet.

3. flowing like water.

4. clear, transparent, or bright.

   liquid eyes.

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

   the liquid voice of a trained orator.

6. in cash or readily convertible into cash without significant loss of principal.

   liquid assets.

7. 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.

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

   the ballerina's liquid arabesques.

noun

1. a liquid substance.

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

liquid

/ ˈlɪkwɪd /

noun

1. a substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of shape but does resist change of size Compare gas solid

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

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

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or being a liquid or having the characteristic state of liquids

   liquid wax

2. shining, transparent, or brilliant

3. flowing, fluent, or smooth

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

liquid

1. 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

1. 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.)

Other Word Forms

• liquidly adverb
• liquidness noun
• nonliquid adjective
• nonliquidly adverb
• unliquid adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of liquid¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English liquyd, from Latin liquidus, equivalent to liqu(ēre) “to be liquid” + -idus -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of liquid¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The driver wears a fireproof vest fitted with a tube through which a cooled liquid is fed by a pump.

From BBC

The two highly-polluting blast furnaces used intense heat to turn ingredients including iron ore into liquid iron.

From BBC

Researchers have described the test as a "liquid biopsy" and said the "world-first approach" could pave the way for faster, cheaper and less invasive brain cancer diagnosis.

From BBC

The batter is more liquid than solid, like crepe batter, while apple butter is dense, so resist the urge to get fancy.

From Salon

In addition to allegedly using makeshift blades, Abedi has also been accused of throwing boiling hot liquid at officers during the attack.

From BBC