liquid

[ lik-wid ]
/ ˈlɪk wɪd /

adjective

noun

a liquid substance.
Phonetics. either r or l, and sometimes m, n, ng.

Origin of liquid

1350–1400; Middle English liquyd < Latin liquidus, equivalent to liqu(ēre) to be liquid + -idus -id4

SYNONYMS FOR liquid

1 Liquid, fluid agree in referring to matter that is not solid. Liquid commonly refers to substances, as water, oil, alcohol, and the like, that are neither solids nor gases: Water ceases to be a liquid when it is frozen or turned to steam. Fluid is applied to anything that flows, whether liquid or gaseous: Pipes can carry fluids from place to place.

OTHER WORDS FROM liquid

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH liquid

fluid gas liquid (see synonym study at the current entry)

Example sentences from the Web for liquid

British Dictionary definitions for liquid

liquid
/ (ˈlɪkwɪd) /

noun

a substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of shape but does resist change of size Compare gas (def. 1), solid (def. 1)
a substance that is a liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
phonetics a frictionless continuant, esp (l) or (r)

adjective

Derived forms of liquid

liquidly, adverb liquidness, noun

Word Origin for liquid

C14: via Old French from Latin liquidus, from liquēre to be fluid

Medical definitions for liquid

liquid
[ lĭkwĭd ]

n.

The state of matter in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow, little or no tendency to disperse, and relatively high incompressibility.
Matter or a specific body of matter in this state.

adj.

Of or being a liquid.
Having been liquefied, especially melted by heating or condensed by cooling.
Flowing readily; fluid.

Other words from liquid

liquid•ly adv.

Scientific definitions for liquid

liquid
[ lĭkwĭd ]

One of four main states of matter, composed of molecules that can move about in a substance but are bound loosely together by intramolecular forces. Unlike a solid, a liquid has no fixed shape, but instead has a characteristic readiness to flow and therefore takes on the shape of any container. Because pressure transmitted at one point is passed on to other points, a liquid usually has a volume that remains constant or changes only slightly under pressure, unlike a gas.

Cultural definitions for liquid

liquid

A phase of matter in which atoms or molecules can move freely while remaining in contact with one another. A liquid takes the shape of its container. (Compare gas and solid.)