beer

noun

ˈbir 

1

: a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage that is usually made from malted cereal grain (especially barley), is flavored with hops, and typically contains less than a 5% alcohol content compare ale, craft beer, lager entry 1, malt liquor sense 2

2

: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts

birch beer

3

: fermented mash

4

: a drink of beer

Examples of beer in a Sentence

Would you like beer with dinner?

The pub brews its own beer.

I'll have a beer, please.

a couple of cold beers

a glass of birch beer

Recent Examples on the Web

Each beer comes one of three ways: hladinka, a traditional pour with a thick head; šnyt, which features more than half foam-to-beer ratio; or mlíko, which is mostly foam with a sliver of beer. —Tiney Ricciardi, The Denver Post, 19 Nov. 2024

Meanwhile, young, social-media-savvy artists like Gavin Adcock are building both images and loyal followings online by pounding beers and talking smack. —Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024

Tingly Foods Sichuan Pepper Peanuts Red and green Sichuan peppercorns pack a prickly punch in this crunchy snack, perfect alongside a cold, crisp beer. —Megan Zhang, Saveur, 13 Nov. 2024

Instead, the two friends sit on the couch with beer and uncertain futures as the episode ends. —Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ber, going back to Old English bēor, akin to Old High German bior "beer," Old Norse bjórr; perhaps all going back to a dissimilated form of Germanic *breura-, a nominal derivative of *brewwan- "to brew entry 1"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beer

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer goggles
• beer gut
• beer mat
• beer pong
• craft beer
• ginger beer
• lager beer
• near beer
• root beer
• small beer
• spruce beer

Kids Definition

beer

noun

ˈbi(ə)r 

1

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops

2

: a nonalcoholic drink made from roots or other parts of plants

birch beer