Main Entry:

¹sour

Pronunciation:

\ˈsau̇(-ə)r\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English sūr; akin to Old High German sūr sour, Lithuanian sūrus salty

Date:

before 12th century

1: causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <sour pickles> — compare bitter, salt, sweet2 a (1): having the acid taste or smell of or as if of fermentation : turned <sour milk> (2): of or relating to fermentation b: smelling or tasting of decay : rancid, rotten <sour breath> c (1): bad, wrong <a project gone sour> (2): hostile, disenchanted <went sour on Marxism>3 a: unpleasant, distasteful b: cross, sullen c: not up to the usual, expected, or standard quality or pitch4: acid in reaction —used especially of soil5: containing malodorous sulfur compounds —used especially of petroleum products

— sour·ish \ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ish\ adjective

— sour·ly adverb

— sour·ness noun