liquid

UK: /ˈlɪkwɪd/ US: /ˈlɪkwɪd/ ,(lik′wid)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

liq•uid /ˈlɪkwɪd/   adj. 

1. Physics made up of molecules that move freely among themselves but do not tend to separate like those of gases; neither gaseous nor solid:
   liquid nitrogen.
2. of, relating to, or made up of liquids:
   a liquid diet.
3. clear and bright:
   soft, liquid eyes.
4. smooth;
   flowing freely:
   liquid dance steps; liquid song.
5. Business in cash or easily changed into cash:
   liquid assets.

n. 

6. Physics a liquid substance:
   [uncountable] needs more liquid.
   [countable] Drink plenty of liquids.

li•quid•i•ty /lɪˈkwɪdɪti/  n. 

[uncountable] the liquidity of his stocks and bonds.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

liq•uid  (lik′wid), adj. 

1. Physics composed of molecules that move freely among themselves but do not tend to separate like those of gases;
   neither gaseous nor solid.
2. of, pertaining to, or consisting of liquids:
   a liquid diet.
3. flowing like water.
4. clear, transparent, or bright:
   liquid eyes.
5. (of sounds, tones, etc.) smooth;
   agreeable;
   flowing freely:
   the liquid voice of a trained orator.
6. Business in cash or readily convertible into cash without significant loss of principal:
   liquid assets.
7. Phonetics characterizing a frictionless speech sound pronounced with only a partial obstruction of the breath stream and whose utterance can be prolonged as that of a vowel, esp. l and r.
8. (of movements, gestures, etc.) graceful;
   smooth;
   free and unconstricted:
   the ballerina's liquid arabesques.

n. 

9. Physics a liquid substance.
10. Phonetics either r or l, and sometimes m, n, ng.

• Latin liquidus, equivalent. to liqu(ēre) to be liquid + -idus -id⁴
• Middle English liquyd 1350–1400

liq′uid•ly, adv. 
liq′uid•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. Liquid, fluid agree in referring to matter that is not solid.
  Liquid commonly refers to substances, as water, oil, alcohol, and the like, that are neither solids nor gases:
  Water ceases to be a liquid when it is frozen or turned to steam.
  Fluid is applied to anything that flows, whether liquid or gaseous:
  Pipes can carry fluids from place to place.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

liquid / ˈlɪkwɪd/ noun

1. a substance in a physical state in which it does not resist change of shape but does resist change of size
   Compare gas1, solid1
2. a substance that is a liquid at room temperature and atmospheric pressure
3. a frictionless continuant, esp ( l ) or ( r )

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or being a liquid or having the characteristic state of liquids: liquid wax
2. shining, transparent, or brilliant
3. flowing, fluent, or smooth
4. (of assets) in the form of money or easily convertible into money

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French from Latin liquidus, from liquēre to be fluid

ˈliquidly adverb

ˈliquidness noun