vinegar

[vin-i-ger]

noun

1. a sour liquid consisting of dilute and impure acetic acid, obtained by acetous fermentation from wine, cider, beer, ale, or the like: used as a condiment, preservative, etc.

2. Pharmacology.,  a solution of a medicinal substance in dilute acetic acid, or vinegar.

3. sour or irritable speech, manner, or countenance.

   a note of vinegar in his voice.

4. Informal.,  vigor; high spirits; vim.

vinegar

/ ˈvɪnɪɡə /

noun

1. a sour-tasting liquid consisting of impure dilute acetic acid, made by oxidation of the ethyl alcohol in beer, wine, or cider. It is used as a condiment or preservative

2. sourness or peevishness of temper, countenance, speech, etc

3. pharmacol a medicinal solution in dilute acetic acid

4. informal,  vitality

verb

1. (tr) to apply vinegar to

Other Word Forms

• vinegarlike adjective
• vinegarish adjective
• vinegar-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegar¹

1250–1300; Middle English vinegre < Old French, equivalent to vin wine + egre, aigre sour ( eager )

Word History and Origins

Origin of vinegar¹

C13: from Old French vinaigre, from vin _wine + aigre sour, from Latin acer sharp

Example Sentences

It’s then finished off with sliced persimmon, thyme leaves, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze and a pinch of flaky sea salt.

From Salon

Then, a splash of acid, like a squeeze of lemon or a finger’s flick of vinegar to carve a little brightness into the shadows.

From Salon

Californian sunsets, perfectly decorated cakes, and lessons in how to make salt and vinegar crisps.

From BBC

Fat for richness, vinegar for tang, honey to round it out, oregano to sharpen.

From Salon

There has been some success with the Australian government's crown-of-thorns starfish culling programme, which has killed over 50,000 starfish by injecting them with vinegar or ox bile.

From BBC

Related Words

• marinade