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liquor

n. · v.
US //ˈɫɪkɝ// UK //lˈɪkɐ// liquor
  1. 1 parsley sauce (n.)
    C2 Proficiency British English Dialect Cooking

    a green parsley sauce served with traditional British pie and mash.

    a specific savoury parsley sauce traditionally served in London pie-and-mash shops.

    Example

    He ordered a traditional beef pie with a side of mash and plenty of green liquor.

    Example

    The authentic London experience requires the pie to be submerged in a generous portion of parsley liquor rather than standard gravy.

  2. 2 industrial liquid (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a liquid used in a factory process to dissolve or change something.

    a solution of chemicals used in industrial processes, particularly in papermaking or tanning.

    Example

    The factory treated the spent liquor before releasing it into the drainage system.

    Example

    In the pulping process, the black liquor is recovered and processed to reclaim inorganic chemicals for reuse in the plant.

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  1. 3 to provide alcohol (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal

    to give someone a lot of alcohol to drink.

    to supply someone with intoxicating drink, often with the intent of making them drunk.

    Example

    They tried to liquor him up before asking for a favour.

    Example

    The lobbyists were known to liquor up the delegates in hopes of influencing the final vote on the trade agreement.

    Usage

    Usually appears in the phrasal form 'liquor up'.

Origin

From Middle English licour, from Anglo-Norman licour, from Latin liquor (“fluidity, liquidness, a fluid, a liquid”), from liquere (“to be fluid or liquid”); see liquid. Doublet of liqueur.

Idioms2 entries

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