What does "pint" mean?

1. (measurement of liquid) a unit for measuring how much liquid is in a container. 2. (a glass of beer) a glass of beer or cider served in a pub. 3. (a bottle of milk) a standard container or amount of milk.

How do you use "pint"?

Often used without the word 'beer' in British English.

pint

US //ˈpaɪnt// UK //pˈaɪnt// pint

1 measurement of liquid (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a unit for measuring how much liquid is in a container.

a standard unit of liquid volume. In the UK, it is 20 imperial fluid ounces; in the US, it is 16 US fluid ounces.

Example

The recipe calls for a pint of heavy cream to make the sauce.

Example

The laboratory technician carefully measured out a pint of the saline solution to ensure the concentration remained consistent across all test samples.
2 a glass of beer (n.)
B1 Intermediate British English

a glass of beer or cider served in a pub.

a serving of beer or cider, typically equivalent to one imperial pint, consumed in a social context.

Example

We went to the local pub after work for a quick pint.

Example

After a long day of hiking through the hills, the group settled into a quiet corner of the tavern for a well-earned pint.

Usage

Often used without the word 'beer' in British English.
- drink
- beer

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3 a bottle of milk (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate British English

a standard container or amount of milk.

a unit of milk as traditionally delivered or sold in glass bottles.

Example

Don't forget to pick up a pint of milk on your way home.

Example

The elderly resident still preferred having a fresh pint of milk delivered to her doorstep every morning by the local dairy.

Origin

From Middle English pinte, from Old French pinte, assumed from Vulgar Latin *pincta (“a mark used to indicate a level of quantity against a larger measure”), from Latin picta (“painted”), from Latin pingō (“paint”, verb). Doublet of pinto and Pinto.