beer
-
1 the drink (n.) A1 Beginneran alcoholic drink made from grain, like barley, and usually flavoured with hops.
an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of sugars derived from cereal grains. Uncountable when referring to the substance in general.
ExampleHe ordered a cold glass of beer to go with his pizza.
ExampleThe brewery produces several varieties of beer, ranging from light, crisp lagers to heavy, dark stouts with complex flavour profiles.
-
2 a glass or bottle (n.) A1 Beginnera single serving of beer, such as a glass, can, or bottle.
a single serving or a specific variety of the beverage. Countable in this sense.
ExampleWe went to the pub and had a couple of beers after work.
ExampleAfter the match, the fans gathered at the local tavern to share a few beers and discuss the highlights of the game.
Show 2 more sensesShow fewer
-
3 non-alcoholic plant drink (n.) B1 Intermediatea drink made from plants or roots that might not have alcohol, like ginger beer.
a fermented or carbonated extract of roots or other plant parts, often non-alcoholic.
ExampleThe kids enjoyed a cold bottle of root beer at the picnic.
ExampleTraditional ginger beer is brewed using a starter culture, resulting in a spicy, carbonated beverage that differs significantly from modern soda.
-
4 to drink or provide (v.) C2 Proficiency Informal Slangto drink beer or to give a beer to someone.
to consume beer or to supply someone with the beverage. Transitive or intransitive depending on the context.
ExampleWe spent the whole Saturday afternoon just beering and watching the game.
ExampleThe host spent the evening beering his guests, ensuring that no glass remained empty for more than a few minutes.
UsageThe verb form is highly informal and typically restricted to casual spoken contexts.