vinegar

noun vin·e·gar \ˈvi-ni-gər\

: a sour liquid that is used to flavor or preserve foods or to clean things

Full Definition of VINEGAR

: a sour liquid obtained by fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative

: ill humor : sourness

: vim

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Origin of VINEGAR

Middle English vinegre, from Anglo-French vin egre, from vin wine (from Latin vinum) + egre keen, sour — more at eager

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to VINEGAR

Synonyms: beans, bounce, brio, dash, drive, dynamism, energy, esprit, gas, get-up-and-go, ginger, go, gusto, hardihood, juice, life, moxie, oomph, pep, punch, sap, snap, starch, verve, vim, vigor, vitality, zing, zip

Antonyms: lethargy, listlessness, sluggishness, torpidity

VINEGAR Defined for Kids

vinegar

noun vin·e·gar \ˈvi-ni-gər\

Definition of VINEGAR for Kids

: a sour liquid made from cider, wine, or malt and used to flavor or preserve foods

Word History of VINEGAR

The English word vinegar came from the medieval French words vin egre with the same meaning. The literal meaning of vin egre is “sour wine,” reflecting the fact that vinegar was often made from old wine in which the alcohol has oxidized.

Medical Dictionary

vinegar

noun vin·e·gar \ˈvin-i-gər\

Medical Definition of VINEGAR

: a sour liquid used as a condiment or a preservative that is obtained by acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids (as fermented cider, malt beer, or wine) or of dilute distilled alcohol

: a pharmaceutical solution of the active principles of drugs in dilute acetic acid usually prepared by maceration <aromatic vinegar>

Learn More About VINEGAR

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "vinegar"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "vinegar"

Nglish: Translation of "vinegar" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "vinegar" for Arabic speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "vinegar"

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