cocktail

1 of 3

noun (1)

cock·​tail ˈkäk-ˌtāl 

1

a

: a usually iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients

b

: something resembling or suggesting such a drink as being a mixture of often diverse elements or ingredients

a cocktail of remembered incidents and pure imagination

—Charlotte Low

a cocktail of herbicides

c

: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis

2

: an appetizer served as a first course at a meal

cocktail

2 of 3

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or set aside for cocktails

a cocktail hour

2

: designed for semiformal wear

a cocktail dress

cocktail

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a horse with its tail docked

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• admixture
• alloy
• amalgam
• amalgamation
• blend
• combination
• composite
• compound
• conflation
• emulsion
• fusion
• intermixture
• meld
• mix
• mixture
• synthesis

Examples of cocktail in a Sentence

Noun (1)

an autopsy found a lethal cocktail of banned substances in the actor's body

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The digital nomad lifestyle looks pretty incredible on social media—who doesn’t want to answer emails while sipping a cocktail on the beach somewhere beautiful?—but the lifestyle comes with its own set of challenges and isn’t necessarily right for everyone. —Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024

One of the property’s highlights is the waterfront restaurant and cocktail bar, which offers views of Biscayne Bay, open-air seating, and a menu of American classics and seafood. —Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2024

In the culinary world, rosemary’s pungent, piney flavor with notes of citrus accompanies poultry dishes, stews, salads, cocktails, and more. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024

Guests can also sip seasonal cocktails like White Limo Hot Chocolate, Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree, Sugar Plum Fairies and many more. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

probably from cock entry 1 + tail

Noun (2)

cock entry 1 + tail

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1781, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cocktail

• Americano cocktail
• cocktail dress
• cocktail glass
• cocktail hour
• cocktail lounge
• cocktail party
• cocktail sauce
• cocktail table
• house cocktail
• Molotov cocktail
• Shirley Temple cocktail

Kids Definition

cocktail

noun

cock·​tail

ˈkäk-ˌtāl

1

: an iced drink of distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients

2

: an appetizer (as tomato juice) served as a first course at a meal

Medical Definition

cocktail

noun

cock·​tail ˈkäk-ˌtāl 

: a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used especially for medical treatment or diagnosis

a potent cocktail of antiretroviral drugs

—Zia Jaffrey

chemotherapy cocktails to treat cancer

—J. L. Swerdlow