liquor
/ˈlɪkə
/noun [mass noun]
1Alcoholic drink, especially distilled spirits.But men are more likely to order alcohol in casual dining restaurants; both men and women drink liquor and wine....
- People don't realize that if they order a tall drink they're getting the same amount of liquor as a short drink.
- At the bar, look for upscale liquor and signature drinks along with a variety of tapas.
Synonyms
alcohol, spirits, alcoholic drink, strong drink, drink, intoxicating liquor, intoxicant
informal booze, hard stuff, shorts, the demon drink, firewater, juice, grog
North American informal the sauce, hooch
2A liquid produced or used in a process, in particular:
2.1Liquid in which something has been steeped or cooked.These had been slightly glazed with concentrated poaching liquor and dusted with what tasted like ground-down, caramelised peach crisps....
- A lot of popular spicy dishes require the ingredients to be marinated in a liquor for a few hours or overnight.
2.2Liquid which drains from food during cooking.They are more similar to dried beans than either crowder or black-eyed peas, and make a clear liquor when cooked....
- Imagine you are making jam and have gotten to the point where you pour the steaming liquor of fruit, sugar, and pectin into the jars.
- Strain over a wide jug and retain the liquor, discarding the peppercorns.
2.3The liquid from which a substance has been crystallized or extracted.The coolers often contained rods or branches to increase the surface area on which the liquor could crystallise.
Synonyms
stock, broth, bouillon, juice, gravy, liquid, infusion, extract, concentrate, decoction
2.4Water used in brewing.
verb [with object]
1Dress (leather) with grease or oil.
2Steep (something, especially malt) in water.
Phrasal verbs
be/get liquored up
Origin
Middle English (denoting liquid or something to drink): from Old French lic(o)ur, from Latin liquor; related to liquare 'liquefy', liquere 'be fluid'.