liquor

1 of 2

noun

li·​quor ˈli-kər 

: a liquid substance: such as

a

: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage

b

: a watery solution of a drug

c

: bath sense 2b(1)

liquor

2 of 2

verb

liquored; liquoring ˈli-k(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to dress (something, such as leather) with oil or grease

2

: to make drunk with alcoholic liquor

—usually used with up

intransitive verb

: to drink alcoholic liquor especially to excess

—usually used with up

Synonyms

Noun

• alcohol
• aqua vitae
• ardent spirits
• booze
• bottle
• drink
• firewater
• grog
• hooch [slang]
• inebriant
• intoxicant
• John Barleycorn
• juice [slang]
• lush [slang]
• moonshine
• potable
• rum
• sauce [slang]
• spirits
• stimulant
• strong drink
• tipple

Verb

• bib
• booze
• drink
• guzzle
• lush (up) [slang]
• soak
• tipple

Examples of liquor in a Sentence

Noun

He drinks beer and wine, but he doesn't drink any hard liquor.

vodka, whiskey, and other liquors

Verb

the men liquored up at the roadhouse and then thought it would be a good idea to go hunting

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The shooting occurred 9:47 p.m. on Feb. 9, outside a liquor store at East 14th Street near 151st Avenue, court records show. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

Yes, bars and liquor stores are open on Election Day, although that wasn't always the case in some states. —Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

The work stoppage threatened the supply of everything from bananas to liquor to European luxury cars, all with the busy holiday shopping season less than two months away. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 3 Oct. 2024

Contestants are limited to one drink per night, and that drink can only be wine, prosecco or beer — not liquor. —Francesca Gariano, Peoplemag, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English licour, from Anglo-French, from Latin liquor, from liquēre

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1502, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing liquor

• hold one's liquor
• malt liquor
• pot liquor

Kids Definition

liquor

noun

li·​quor

ˈlik-ər

1

: a liquid substance or solution

dye liquor

2

: a strong alcoholic beverage

Medical Definition

liquor

noun

li·​quor ˈlik-ər 

: a liquid substance: as

a

: a usually distilled rather than fermented alcoholic beverage

b

: a solution of a medicinal substance usually in water compare tincture

c

: bath sense 2b(1)