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definitions

vinegar

[ vin-i-ger ]
/ ˈvɪn ɪ gər /
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noun

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.
Pharmacology. a solution of a medicinal substance in dilute acetic acid, or vinegar.
sour or irritable speech, manner, or countenance: a note of vinegar in his voice.
Informal. vigor; high spirits; vim.

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RELATED WORDS

marinade, saline, blue, drink, deep, ocean, alkali, preservative, chemical, salt, alcohol, formaldehyde, saltpeter, vigor, strength, force, zeal, energy, pep, drive

Nearby words

  1. vine maple,
  2. vine snake,
  3. vineal,
  4. vined,
  5. vinedresser,
  6. vinegar eel,
  7. vinegar fly,
  8. vinegarette,
  9. vinegarish,
  10. vinegarroon

Origin of vinegar

1250–1300; Middle English vinegre < Old French, equivalent to vin wine + egre, aigre sour (see eager1)
Related formsvin·e·gar·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vinegar

British Dictionary definitions for vinegar

vinegar

/ (ˈvɪnɪɡə) /

noun

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
sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc
pharmacol a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid
US and Canadian informal vitality

verb

(tr) to apply vinegar to
Derived Formsvinegarish, adjectivevinegar-like, adjective

Word Origin for vinegar

C13: from Old French vinaigre, from vin wine + aigre sour, from Latin acer sharp
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for vinegar

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).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Medicine definitions for vinegar

vinegar

[ vĭn′ĭ-gər ]

n.

An impure dilute solution of acetic acid obtained by fermentation beyond the alcohol stage and used as a preservative.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.