Word
vodka
Phoneticsvod·ka
US/ˈvɑdkə/
UK/vˈɒdkɐ/
Definitions
01the alcoholic drink
n. a strong, clear alcoholic drink that has almost no smell or taste.
n. a clear distilled spirit, traditionally made from grain or potatoes, characterized by a neutral flavor profile.
“He ordered a vodka and tonic with a slice of lime.”
“The premium vodka was distilled multiple times to ensure a smooth finish and a lack of impurities.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the liquid; countable when referring to a single serving or a specific brand.
02a serving of the drink
n. one glass or serving of vodka.
n. an individual serving or measure of vodka, typically a shot or a single pour.
“The bartender poured two vodkas for the customers at the end of the bar.”
“After the toast, everyone at the table downed their vodkas in a single gulp.”
Teaching tip
In restaurants, 'a vodka' usually implies a single serving mixed with something or served neat.
Etymology
Borrowed from Russian во́дка (vódka), from вода́ (vodá, “water”) + -ка (-ka, “-let: forming diminutives”). The archaic Russian name for vodka was хле́бное вино́ (xlébnoje vinó, “grain wine”); V. Pokhlyobkin's research suggests the present name derived from expressions concerning the dilution of the initial pure distilled spirit such as "vodka of grain wine". Cognates include Sanskrit उदक (udaka), Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdōr) → English hydro-, English whisky and English water.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/vodka