beer Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops

WordNet

Beer noun
Etymology
OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel. bjrr, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. *93, See Brew.
Definitions
  1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter flavor. ✍ Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See Ale.
  2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. Shak.

Webster 1913