# beer

/ˈbɪɹ/ (US) · /bˈiə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beer
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the drink

noun · CEFR A1

an alcoholic drink made from grain, like barley, and usually flavoured with hops.

For teachers: an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of sugars derived from cereal grains. Uncountable when referring to the substance in general.

- He ordered a cold glass of beer to go with his pizza.
- The brewery produces several varieties of beer, ranging from light, crisp lagers to heavy, dark stouts with complex flavour profiles.

### 2. a glass or bottle

noun · CEFR A1

a single serving of beer, such as a glass, can, or bottle.

For teachers: a single serving or a specific variety of the beverage. Countable in this sense.

- We went to the pub and had a couple of beers after work.
- After the match, the fans gathered at the local tavern to share a few beers and discuss the highlights of the game.

### 3. non-alcoholic plant drink

noun · CEFR B1

a drink made from plants or roots that might not have alcohol, like ginger beer.

For teachers: a fermented or carbonated extract of roots or other plant parts, often non-alcoholic.

- The kids enjoyed a cold bottle of root beer at the picnic.
- Traditional 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

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal · Slang

to drink beer or to give a beer to someone.

For teachers: to consume beer or to supply someone with the beverage. Transitive or intransitive depending on the context.

- We spent the whole Saturday afternoon just beering and watching the game.
- The host spent the evening beering his guests, ensuring that no glass remained empty for more than a few minutes.

Usage: The verb form is highly informal and typically restricted to casual spoken contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.