English Reference
noun · adjective

liquid

n. · adj.
US /ˈɫɪkwəd/ UK /lˈɪkwɪd/ liq·uid UK spelling liquid's, liquid's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate Science

    n.a substance that flows and can be poured, like water or oil.

    n.a state of matter that flows freely but is of relatively fixed volume; it takes the shape of its container but resists compression.

    Simple

    Be careful not to spill any liquid on your new laptop.

    In context

    The chemist carefully transferred the volatile liquid into a sealed glass beaker to prevent evaporation during the experiment.

  2. 02 B1 Intermediate

    adj.in the form of a liquid rather than a solid or gas.

    adj.existing in a fluid physical state; neither solid nor gaseous.

    Simple

    The volcano erupted, sending a river of liquid rock down the mountain.

    In context

    The substance remains liquid at room temperature but solidifies rapidly when exposed to even a slight drop in pressure.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Technical Finance

    adj.easy to turn into cash quickly.

    adj.consisting of cash or assets that can be converted into cash immediately without significant loss of value.

    Simple

    The company kept some liquid assets available to pay for unexpected repairs.

    In context

    In a volatile market, investors prefer liquid assets that allow them to exit positions quickly if economic conditions deteriorate.

    Usage

    Often used to describe assets, markets, or a company's financial health.

    illiquidfrozen
  4. 04 C2 Proficiency Literary

    adj.clear, smooth, and pleasant to hear.

    adj.characterized by a smooth, flowing quality of sound; lacking harshness or abrupt transitions.

    Simple

    The singer had a beautiful, liquid voice that filled the hall.

    In context

    The poet was celebrated for his liquid prose, which seemed to glide effortlessly from one metaphor to the next.

    mellifluoussmoothflowing

Usage liquid water


From Middle English liquide, from Old French liquide, from Latin liquidus (“fluid, liquid, moist”), from liqueō (“to be liquid, be fluid”). Doublet of liquidus. As a term for a consonant, it comes from Latin liquida (cōnsōnāns), a calque of Ancient Greek ὑγρὸν (σύμφωνον) (hugròn (súmphōnon), “liquid consonant”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin liquida
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated