# liquid

/ˈɫɪkwəd/ (US) · /lˈɪkwɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/liquid
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a fluid substance

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- Be careful not to spill any liquid on your new laptop.
- The chemist carefully transferred the volatile liquid into a sealed glass beaker to prevent evaporation during the experiment.

### 2. flowing freely

adjective · CEFR B1

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

For teachers: existing in a fluid physical state; neither solid nor gaseous.

- The volcano erupted, sending a river of liquid rock down the mountain.
- The substance remains liquid at room temperature but solidifies rapidly when exposed to even a slight drop in pressure.

### 3. finance/assets

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

easy to turn into cash quickly.

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

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

### 4. smooth sounds

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

clear, smooth, and pleasant to hear.

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

- The singer had a beautiful, liquid voice that filled the hall.
- The poet was celebrated for his liquid prose, which seemed to glide effortlessly from one metaphor to the next.

## Examples

- Be careful not to spill that blue liquid on the carpet.
- The company needs to keep enough liquid on hand to pay its employees and suppliers every month.
- While the firm holds significant real estate, it lacks the liquid necessary to settle its immediate debts without selling off property at a loss.

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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.