liquid

1 of 2

adjective

liq·​uid ˈli-kwəd How to pronounce liquid (audio)
1
: flowing freely like water
liquid detergent
2
: having the properties of a liquid : being neither solid nor gaseous
3
a
: shining and clear
large liquid eyes
b
: being musical and free of harshness in sound
the liquid song of the robin
c
: smooth and unconstrained in movement
the liquid grace of a ballerina
d
: articulated without friction and capable of being prolonged like a vowel
a liquid consonant
4
a
: consisting of or capable of ready conversion into cash
liquid assets
b
: capable of covering current liabilities (see liability sense 2) quickly with current assets
liquidity noun
liquidly adverb
liquidness noun

liquid

2 of 2

noun

1
: a liquid consonant
2
: a fluid (such as water) that has no independent shape but has a definite volume and does not expand indefinitely and that is only slightly compressible

Examples of liquid in a Sentence

Adjective Water and milk are liquid substances. The medicine is available in liquid form. She had large liquid eyes. the liquid notes of a bird the liquid grace of the dancer's movements Noun Water and milk are liquids. a bottle of green liquid
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
So far, Curiosity has found evidence in several locations of past liquid water, minerals that may provide chemical energy, and intriguingly, a variety of organic carbon molecules. Amy J. Williams, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2024 Powdered formula should be discarded once it's been open for a month, and opened liquid formula lasts in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Lainey Younkin, Ms, Rd, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 This is a plush, liquid breakup ballad about resilience and closure, and Musgraves sings it with a gorgeous flatness that she’s made her signature, as if transposing the physical landscape of her native Texas into a sound. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Thursday’s flight included an early test of that technology, moving liquid oxygen from one tank to another within Starship. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 This causes liquid water from oceans, lakes and other surface waters to be converted into vapor. Billy Stockwell, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Water sampling has shown an increasing amount of cancer-causing benzene in this liquid waste, which experts say is generally an indication of rising temperatures. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Now toner usually refers to liquid formulations geared toward oily skin that's in need of gentle exfoliation and resurfacing. Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 Even the liquid screen protectors have their issues. Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024
Noun
Some frustrated Russians did not even wait for the Sunday protest and instead expressed their anger as soon as voting started on Friday, by setting fire to polling stations or ballots or dumping liquid into ballot boxes. Robyn Dixon, Washington Post, 17 Mar. 2024 Then, a confused Timberlake is met with the first woman who is standing on an elevated surface and unleashes her giant wings as a dark liquid spills out of her mouth. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 As a reminder, your carry-on liquids must adhere to the following: 3.4 ounces or less per container All liquids must fit in a 1-quart clear plastic zip-top bag 1 bag per passenger Why Trust Travel + Leisure For this story, Barbara Bellesi Zito researched dozens of after-sun lotions from top brands. Barbara Bellesi Zito, Travel + Leisure, 15 Mar. 2024 What is the Line 5 pipeline used for? Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline transports 450,000 barrels per day of crude oil and 80,000 barrels of natural gas liquids, which are refined into propane. Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2024 Glucose tolerance tests measure one's blood sugar before and after drinking a specialized liquid that contains glucose. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024 In order to boil, a liquid must attain a pressure equal to that of the atmosphere itself. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024 Chiquita Canyon, which had been sending the polluted water to two Southern California facilities, is now transporting some of this hazardous liquid waste to Utah. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Because each snail yielded little more than a drop of the discharge — a clear, malodorous liquid — some 250,000 were required to produce an ounce of dye, by some accounts. Franz Lidz, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'liquid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French liquide, from Latin liquidus, from liquēre to be fluid; akin to Latin lixa water, lye, and perhaps to Old Irish fliuch damp

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of liquid was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near liquid

Cite this Entry

“Liquid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liquid. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

liquid

1 of 2 adjective
liq·​uid ˈlik-wəd How to pronounce liquid (audio)
1
: flowing freely like water
2
: neither solid nor gaseous
liquid mercury
3
: resembling liquid in clearness or smoothness
large liquid eyes
liquid notes of a bird
4
: capable of being pronounced without friction and longer than usual like a vowel
the liquid consonant \l\
5
: made up of or easily changed into cash
liquid assets
liquidity noun
liquidly adverb

liquid

2 of 2 noun
1
: a liquid consonant
2
: a liquid substance

Medical Definition

liquid

1 of 2 adjective
liq·​uid ˈlik-wəd How to pronounce liquid (audio)
1
: flowing freely like water
2
: having the properties of a liquid : being neither solid nor gaseous

liquid

2 of 2 noun
: a fluid (as water) that has no independent shape but has a definite volume and does not expand indefinitely and that is only slightly compressible

Legal Definition

liquid

adjective
liq·​uid
1
a
: consisting of cash or capable of ready conversion into cash
liquid assets
b
: capable of covering current liabilities out of current assets especially in a rapid manner
a liquid insurer
2
: of or relating to a security or commodity with enough shares or units outstanding to hinder significant price variation from large transactions

More from Merriam-Webster on liquid

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