martini
n. countablen. a famous cocktail made by mixing gin or vodka with a special wine called vermouth. It is usually served very cold in a glass with a stem and decorated with an olive or a piece of lemon.
n. a cocktail consisting of gin or vodka and dry vermouth, typically garnished with an olive or a lemon twist. Often specified as 'dry' when the proportion of vermouth is low.
He ordered a dry martini with an olive.
The bartender stirred the martini gently to ensure it remained clear before pouring it into a chilled glass.
While the classic martini recipe calls for gin, many modern drinkers prefer vodka, often debating whether the drink should be shaken or stirred to achieve the perfect temperature and texture.
Named after Hungarian-born Swiss inventor Frédéric de Martini (1832–1897).
Martini is an Italian name, and in the sense of vermouth is used by the Italian company Martini & Rossi. In the sense “cocktail with vermouth and either gin or vodka”, coined in America in the 19th or 20th century, for which various theories exist – perhaps named for the Italian brand of vermouth, perhaps after Martinez, California, perhaps after an Italian bartender of that name.
Countable when referring to the drink itself; often used with the adjective 'dry' to indicate less vermouth.