liquid Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure
  2. noun the state in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow with little or no tendency to disperse and relatively high incompressibility
    liquid state; liquidness; liquidity.
  3. noun fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
  4. noun a frictionless continuant that is not a nasal consonant (especially `l' and `r')
  5. adjective existing as or having characteristics of a liquid; especially tending to flow
    • water and milk and blood are liquid substances
  6. adjective satellite filled or brimming with tears
    swimming.
    • swimming eyes
    • sorrow made the eyes of many grow liquid
  7. adjective satellite clear and bright
    limpid.
    • the liquid air of a spring morning
    • eyes shining with a liquid luster
    • limpid blue eyes
  8. adjective changed from a solid to a liquid state
    melted; liquified.
    • rivers filled to overflowing by melted snow
  9. adjective satellite smooth and flowing in quality; entirely free of harshness
    • the liquid song of a robin
  10. adjective satellite smooth and unconstrained in movement
    fluent; smooth; fluid.
    • a long, smooth stride
    • the fluid motion of a cat
    • the liquid grace of a ballerina
  11. adjective satellite in cash or easily convertible to cash
    fluid.
    • liquid (or fluid) assets

WordNet

Liq"uid adjective
Etymology
L. liquidus, fr. liquere to be fluid or liquid; cf. Skr. ri to ooze, drop, li to melt.
Definitions
  1. Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid.
    Yes, though he go upon the plane and liquid water which will receive no step. Tyndale.
  2. (Physics) Being in such a state that the component parts move among themselves, but do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of gases and vapors do; neither solid nor aëriform; as, liquid mercury, in distinction from mercury solidified or in a state of vapor.
  3. Flowing or sounding smoothly or without abrupt transitions or harsh tones. "Liquid melody." Crashaw.
  4. Pronounced without any jar or harshness; smooth; as, l and r are liquid letters.
  5. Fluid and transparent; as, the liquid air.
  6. Clear; definite in terms or amount.Obs. "Though the debt should be entirely liquid." Ayliffe. 7. (Finance) the quality of being readily convertible to cash. -- said of assets, such as common stocks or bonds, tradable on a major stock exchange
Liq"uid noun
Definitions
  1. A substance whose parts change their relative position on the slightest pressure, and therefore retain no definite form; any substance in the state of liquidity; a fluid that is not aëriform. needs a better definition: e.g. a fluid with a definite volume, but whose shape is determined by the container in which it is contained. Liquids, in contrast to gases, cannot expand indefinitely to fill an expanding container, and are only slightly compressible by application of pressure. ✍ Liquid and fluid are terms often used synonymously, but fluid has the broader signification. All liquids are fluids, but many fluids, as air and the gases, are not liquids.
  2. (Phon.) A letter which has a smooth, flowing sound, or which flows smoothly after a mute; as, l and r, in bla, bra. M and n also are called liquids.

Webster 1913