vinegar

[vin-i-ger]

noun

1. 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.

2. Pharmacology.,  a solution of a medicinal substance in dilute acetic acid, or vinegar.

3. sour or irritable speech, manner, or countenance.

   a note of vinegar in his voice.

4. Informal.,  vigor; high spirits; vim.

vinegar

/ ˈvɪnɪɡə /

noun

1. 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

2. sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc

3. pharmacol a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid

4. informal,  vitality

verb

1. (tr) to apply vinegar to

Other Word Forms

• vinegarish adjective
• vinegar-like adjective
• vinegarlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegar¹

1250–1300; Middle English vinegre < Old French, equivalent to vin wine + egre, aigre sour ( eager )

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegar¹

C13: from Old French vinaigre, from vin _wine + aigre sour, from Latin acer sharp

Example Sentences

Currently at London's Selfridges, you can buy fish and chips soft toys, sold to you by an assistant pretending to fry and put salt and vinegar on your selected teddies.

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It’s then finished off with sliced persimmon, thyme leaves, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze and a pinch of flaky sea salt.

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Then, a splash of acid, like a squeeze of lemon or a finger’s flick of vinegar to carve a little brightness into the shadows.

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Californian sunsets, perfectly decorated cakes, and lessons in how to make salt and vinegar crisps.

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Fat for richness, vinegar for tang, honey to round it out, oregano to sharpen.

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Related Words

• marinade