# brandy

/ˈbɹændi/ (US) · /bɹˈændi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. the alcoholic spirit

noun · CEFR B2

a strong alcoholic drink made by heating wine or fruit juice and collecting the steam.

For teachers: a spirit produced by distilling wine or the fermented mash of fruits such as apples or cherries.

- After the long winter walk, they sat by the fire and sipped some brandy.
- The region is famous for producing a high-quality brandy that is aged in oak barrels for at least ten years before bottling.

### 2. a serving or variety

noun · CEFR B2

a single glass of this drink, or a specific type of it.

For teachers: a single serving of brandy or a specific variety or brand of the spirit.

- He ordered two brandies for the table after the meal was finished.
- The bar offers an impressive selection of fruit brandies, including several rare varieties imported from small distilleries in central Europe.

### 3. to add brandy to food

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to add brandy to food to give it flavour or to help it stay fresh.

For teachers: to flavour, preserve, or soak a food item in brandy. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- My grandmother always brandies the fruit months before making the Christmas cake.
- The chef recommended brandying the cherries overnight to ensure the dessert had a deep, complex alcoholic undertone.

## Examples

- He poured a small glass of brandy.
- The host served brandy with the coffee after dinner.
- The complex aromas of the aged brandy revealed notes of dried fruit, vanilla, and oak.

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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.