beer

noun

ˈbir 

1

: a carbonated, fermented alcoholic beverage that is usually made from malted cereal grain (especially barley), is flavored with hops, and typically contains less than a 5% alcohol content compare ale, craft beer, lager entry 1, malt liquor sense 2

2

: a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts

birch beer

3

: fermented mash

4

: a drink of beer

Example Sentences

Would you like beer with dinner?

The pub brews its own beer.

I'll have a beer, please.

a couple of cold beers

a glass of birch beer

Recent Examples on the Web

Known as Spirits Alley, this area is home to numerous wine, beer and spirits companies including St. George Spirits, Faction Brewing, Building 43 Winery, Urban Legend Cellars and Dashe Cellars. Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Nov. 2022

Wine, beer and spirits can also be ordered online among other options. Mariam Fam, ajc, 20 Nov. 2022

No hard liquor at Buc-ee’s, but the store sells beer and wine to folks age 21 and older. Mary Colurso | [e-mail], al, 20 Nov. 2022

The sale of beer and other alcoholic beverages at the 2022 World Cup stadiums in Qatar was banned on Friday, just two days before the international soccer tournament kicks off. Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2022

There will be plenty of other items to bid on, games for the children, appetizers, wine, beer -- and a visit from Santa to top it off. Sam Boyer, cleveland, 11 Nov. 2022

The measure asked voters whether the state should gradually increase the number of locations where a single company can sell beer or wine, from nine to 18. John Hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Nov. 2022

San Diego Made Holiday Market: This arts and crafts fair will feature more than 80 local makers as well as live music, an interactive art installation, toys and games for kids, craft cocktails and beer and food trucks. San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Nov. 2022

Armstrong sometimes joined Strickland at the Driveway Series, a popular weekly program of bike races, beer, and food trucks held at an Austin auto-racing track. Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2022

See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ber, going back to Old English bēor, akin to Old High German bior "beer," Old Norse bjórr; perhaps all going back to a dissimilated form of Germanic *breura-, a nominal derivative of *brewwan- "to brew entry 1"

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing beer

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer gut
• ginger beer
• craft beer
• beer pong
• near beer
• small beer
• root beer
• spruce beer
• beer goggles
• beer mat
• lager beer

See More

• beer and skittles
• beer belly
• beer gut
• ginger beer
• craft beer
• beer pong
• near beer
• small beer
• root beer
• spruce beer
• beer goggles
• beer mat
• lager beer

See More

Kids Definition

beer

noun

ˈbi(ə)r 

1

: an alcoholic drink made from malt and flavored with hops

2

: a nonalcoholic drink made from roots or other parts of plants

birch beer