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

Examples of beer in a Sentence

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

The event features tastings of wine, beer and food. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

Movie theaters in New York are only allowed to sell beer and wine, according to the New York State Liquor Authority, but this new legislation would add liquor to the mix. —Maysoon Khan, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2024

In Vienna, warm summer weather brings visitors to parks, concerts, festivals, beer gardens, and cafés. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2024

Growing demand Nonalcoholic beer has gone mainstream. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

The company is also offering $4 Dos Equis draft beers and $4 Legendary Margaritas. —Gabe Hauari, The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024

Ramps set up by Dickies and Magnolia Skate Shop were placed in the middle of the street and could be viewed easily by those indulging in smash burgers and cold beer while skaters showed off their best tricks. —Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2024

Meanwhile, ribs are devoured, beer is guzzled and, when conflict ratchets up, shots are thrown back. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Festival food includes sushi, spam musubi, gyoza, yakisoba, mochi, teriyaki chicken rice bowls, shave ice, cotton candy and bento boxes with pork cutlet, teriyaki salmon or sesame tofu, with iced coffee, boba drinks, beer, sake, plum wine, sodas and lemonade to wash it all down. —Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024

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

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