English Reference
noun · verb

liquor

n. · v.
US /ˈɫɪkɝ/ UK /lˈɪkɐ/ liquor UK spelling liquor's, liquor's, liquored, liquoring

  1. 01 C2 Proficiency British EnglishDialect Cooking

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

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

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

    Simple

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

    In context

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

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    v.to give someone a lot of alcohol to drink.

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

    Simple

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

    In context

    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'.

    ply

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.

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

This entry
Origin Latin liquor
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated