liquor

American  

[lik-er, lik-wawr] / ˈlɪk ər, ˈlɪk wɔr /

noun

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

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

   Synonyms:

   juice

3. Pharmacology. solution.

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

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to furnish or ply with liquor to drink (often followed byup ).

verb (used without object)

1. Informal. to drink large quantities of liquor (often followed byup ).

liquor British  

/ ˈlɪkə /

noun

1. any alcoholic drink, esp spirits, or such drinks collectively

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

3. pharmacol a solution of a pure substance in water

4. brewing warm water added to malt to form wort

5. drunk; intoxicated

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• antiliquor
  adjective
• liquory
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of liquor

1175–1225; < Latin: a liquid, originally liquidity ( liqu ( ēre ) to be liquid + -or -or ¹ ); replacing Middle English lic ( o ) ur < Old French ( French liqueur ) < Latin liquōrem, accusative of liquor

Example Sentences

Beshear moderated the conversation among the state leaders at the Los Angeles-area home of liquor heiress Ellen Bronfman Hauptman and her husband, former Chicago Fire soccer club owner Andrew Hauptman.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The southern island province became a duty-free magnet, packed with luxury storefronts, giant malls and travelers loading up on cosmetics, handbags and liquor instead of flying to Seoul, Tokyo or Paris.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

A lot of our parents have these wholesale businesses downtown or dry cleaners or liquor stores.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

And while baijiu—a liquor made from fermented grains—has long been integral to Chinese culture and is prized as a luxury gift, especially among older businessmen, the fiery spirit isn’t as popular with the younger generation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

“It was some broken wittles—that’s what it was—and a dram of liquor, and a pie.”

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• alcohol
• booze
• whiskey