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

During the event, Buehrle also bought a round of beer for the fans in attendance Friday at the Ramova Theatre in Bridgeport. —Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2025

Some items, like cases of beer, are marked up just a dollar above the wholesale price to stay competitive. —Matthew Geiger, The Denver Post, 25 Jan. 2025

The magazine has also partnered to release several other special products throughout the centenary year, including a line of apparel with J.Crew, pajamas with Sleepy Jones, a limited-edition watch with Timex, a chess set with Printworks, and a limited-edition line of beer with Brooklyn Brewery. —The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025

The bar runs a nightly program (tickets are about 10 dollars) and serves affordable cocktails and beer (cocktail pitchers, around 20 dollars). —Vjosa Isai, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025

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