liquid
/ˈlɪk.wɪd/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
A liquid substance flows easily and is not solid or gas. It can be poured or moved from one container to another.
- Water is liquid at room temperature.
- This soap leaves a liquid residue.
- She spilled liquid on the floor.
noun
A liquid is a substance, such as water, milk, or oil, that flows and can be poured.
- Please drink more liquids today.
- The bottle contains a clear liquid.
- Hot liquids can burn your mouth.
Adinary Nuance
Liquid describes a state of matter or a substance that flows. It is more exact than watery, which suggests thinness, and more physical than fluid, which can also be used in figurative ways. In science and everyday writing, use liquid when you want the clearest, most direct word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chất lỏng
- Spanish
- líquido
- Chinese
- 液体
- Japanese
- 液体
- Korean
- 액체
Etymology
From Latin liquidus, meaning 'fluid' or 'flowing'. It entered English through Old French in the late Middle Ages.
Common phrases
liquid formliquid stateliquid assetsliquid nitrogen
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is liquid a noun or an adjective?
- It can be both. As a noun, it means a substance that flows. As an adjective, it describes something made of that substance or having that form.
- What is the difference between liquid and fluid?
- Liquid is more specific. Fluid can mean a liquid, but it can also mean smooth, changing, or not fixed.
- Is liquid used in business English?
- Yes. In business, liquid often appears in phrases like liquid assets, meaning money or assets that are easy to use.