vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvi-ni-gər 

1

: a sour liquid obtained by fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative

2

: ill humor : sourness

3

: vim

Synonyms

• beans
• bounce
• brio
• dash
• drive
• dynamism
• energy
• esprit
• gas
• get-up-and-go
• ginger
• go
• gusto
• hardihood
• juice
• life
• moxie
• oomph
• pep
• punch
• sap
• snap
• starch
• verve
• vigor
• vim
• vitality
• zing
• zip

Examples of vinegar in a Sentence

glad to see his old friend was still full of vinegar after so many years

Recent Examples on the Web

Add the red pepper flakes, black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and lemon zest. —The View, ABC News, 22 Nov. 2023

To get your pan as good as new, add equal parts white vinegar and water to soak in the pan. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2023

Make the Vinegar Whipped Cream: Whisk heavy whipping cream, champagne vinegar and salt together until stiff peaks form. —Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023

Combined with couscous and a dressing made from maple syrup, mustard, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and more, the final product felt fresh yet filling. —Abby Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2023

Easily accessible and environmentally conscious, vinegar uses its acidic makeup to break down stains. —Gia Yetikyel, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2023

Now, Balo Orozco, the owner of Sunset Cultures, is making fruit vinegars with the same vibrancy and lush fruit flavors as his kombucha, using up excess fruit so nothing goes to waste. —L.a. Times Food Staff, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2023

Any hint of spice dissolves immediately upon making contact with my tongue, leaving shriveled notes of tomato, ginger, and vinegar. —Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2023

Performance: During in-lab testing, our testers used a mixture of vinegar and water, and melted chocolate to simulate types of cat waste. —Katherine Alex Beaven, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English vinegre, from Anglo-French vin egre, from vin wine (from Latin vinum) + egre keen, sour — more at eager

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vinegar

• cider vinegar
• mother of vinegar
• balsamic vinegar
• spit and vinegar
• vinegar fly
• vinegar eel
• wine vinegar

• cider vinegar
• mother of vinegar
• balsamic vinegar
• spit and vinegar
• vinegar fly
• vinegar eel
• wine vinegar

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Kids Definition

vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvin-i-gər 

: a sour liquid obtained from cider, wine, or malt and used to flavor or preserve foods

Etymology

Middle English vinegre "vinegar," from early French vin egre (same meaning), literally, "sour wine," from vin "wine" and egre "sharp, sour, eager"; vin from Latin vinum "wine" and egre from Latin acer "sharp, sour, spirited" — related to eager, vine, vintage

Medical Definition

vinegar

noun

vin·​e·​gar ˈvin-i-gər 

1

: a sour liquid used as a condiment or a preservative that is obtained by acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids (as fermented cider, malt beer, or wine) or of dilute distilled alcohol

2

: a pharmaceutical solution of the active principles of drugs in dilute acetic acid usually prepared by maceration

aromatic vinegar