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

While detergent, Fels-Naphtha soap and vinegar and baking soda can remove a lot of stains, at some point every t-shirt is beyond saving. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024

Whisk in the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard and olive oil. —Kelly Brant, arkansasonline.com, 31 Dec. 2024

Cleaning experts opt for hot water, rock salt, ice cubes, and basic household items such as white vinegar and baking soda, as well as common cleaning products. —Julia Mitchem, Architectural Digest, 30 Dec. 2024

For wine or punch stains on clothing and linens, soak the item in cold water for 30 minutes, then apply white vinegar to the stain. —Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024

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

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

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