sour

¹sour

adjective \ˈsau̇(-ə)r\

Definition of SOUR

1

: causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids <sour pickles> — compare bitter, salt, sweet

2

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 pitch

4

: acid in reaction —used especially of soil

5

: containing malodorous sulfur compounds —used especially of petroleum products

— sour·ish \ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ish\ adjective

— sour·ly adverb

— sour·ness noun

Examples of SOUR

1. The milk had turned sour.
2. He made a sour face.

Origin of SOUR

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SOUR

Synonyms

acid, acidic, acidulous, sourish, tart, tartish, vinegary

Antonyms

agreeable, congenial, good, grateful, gratifying, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, satisfying, welcome

Related Words

dry, soured, unsweetened; pungent, sharp, tangy, zestful, zesty, zingy; astringent, puckery hyperacid

Near Antonyms

sweet; bland, smooth; flat, flavorless, insipid, savorless, tasteless, zestless; dilute, thin, watery, weak

²sour

noun

Definition of SOUR

1

a : something sour

b : the primary taste sensation produced by acid stimuli

2

: a cocktail consisting of a liquor (as whiskey), lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes ice

First Known Use of SOUR

before 12th century

Other Alcoholic Beverage Terms

finish, gimlet, mull, sake, setup, sommelier, syllabub, vintner, wassail

Rhymes with SOUR

bower, dower, flour, flower, glower, lower, power, scour, shower, Stour, tour, tower

³sour

verb

Definition of SOUR

intransitive verb

: to become sour

transitive verb

: to make sour

Examples of SOUR

1. Her disposition has soured in recent years.
2. Jealousy has soured their relationship.
3. His experiences have soured him.
4. The team's victory was soured by an injury to one of their best players.

First Known Use of SOUR

14th century

Related to SOUR

Synonyms

alien, alienate, disaffect, disgruntle, estrange

Antonyms

reconcile

Related Words

antagonize, embitter, envenom; aggravate, anger, enrage, incense, inflame (also enflame), infuriate, madden, outrage, rankle, rile, roil; break up, dissociate, disunite, divide, separate, sever, split, sunder, uncouple, unlink, unyoke; disappoint, disenchant, disillusion; annoy, bother, bug, chafe, exasperate, gall, grate, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, pique, rile, vex

Near Antonyms

endear, ingratiate; appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, pacify, placate, propitiate