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.
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.
–noun
9.
a liquid substance.
10.
Phonetics. either r or l, and sometimes m, n, ng.
[Origin: 1350–1400; ME liquyd < L liquidus, equiv. to liqu(ére) to be liquid + -idus-id4]
—Related forms
liq·uid·ly, adverb
liq·uid·ness, noun
—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.
The state of matter in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow, little or no tendency to disperse, and relatively high incompressibility.
Matter or a specific body of matter in this state.
Linguistics A consonant articulated without friction and capable of being prolonged like a vowel, such as English l and r.
adj.
Of or being a liquid.
Having been liquefied, especially:
Melted by heating: liquid wax.
Condensed by cooling: liquid oxygen.
Flowing readily; fluid: added milk to make the batter more liquid.
Having a flowing quality without harshness or abrupt breaks: liquid prose; the liquid movements of a Balinese dancer.
Linguistics Articulated without friction and capable of being prolonged like a vowel.
Clear and shining: the liquid brown eyes of a spaniel.
Readily convertible into cash: liquid assets.
[From Middle English, of a liquid, from Old French liquide, from Latin liquidus, from liquēre, to be liquid.]
1382, from O.Fr. liquide, from L. liquidus "fluid, liquid, moist," from liquere "be fluid," related to liqui "to melt, flow." Of sounds, from 1637. Financial sense of "capable of being converted to cash" is first recorded 1818. The noun is 1709, from the adj.
existing as or having characteristics of a liquid; especially tending to flow; "water and milk and blood are liquid substances" [ant: gaseous, solid]
2.
filled or brimming with tears; "swimming eyes"; "sorrow made the eyes of many grow liquid"
3.
clear and bright; "the liquid air of a spring morning"; "eyes shining with a liquid luster"; "limpid blue eyes"
4.
changed from a solid to a liquid state; "rivers filled to overflowing by melted snow" [syn: melted] [ant: unmelted]
5.
smooth and flowing in quality; entirely free of harshness; "the liquid song of a robin"
6.
smooth and unconstrained in movement; "a long, smooth stride"; "the fluid motion of a cat"; "the liquid grace of a ballerina" [syn: fluent]
7.
in cash or easily convertible to cash; "liquid (or fluid) assets" [syn: fluid]
noun
1.
a substance that is liquid at room temperature and pressure
2.
the state in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow with little or no tendency to disperse and relatively high incompressibility
3.
fluid matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
4.
a frictionless continuant that is not a nasal consonant (especially 'l' and 'r')
liquidAudio Help (lĭk'wĭd) Pronunciation Key
One of four main states of matter, composed of molecules that can move about in a substance but are bound loosely together by intramolecular forces. Unlike a solid, a liquid has no fixed shape, but instead has a characteristic readiness to flow and therefore takes on the shape of any container. Because pressure transmitted at one point is passed on to other points, a liquid usually has a volume that remains constant or changes only slightly under pressure, unlike a gas.
A phase of matter in which atoms or molecules can move freely while remaining in contact with one another. A liquid takes the shape of its container. (Comparegasandsolid.)
Del`i*quesce"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deliquesced; p. pr. & vb. n. Deliquescing.] [L. deliquescere to melt, dissolve; de- + liquescere to become fluid, melt, fr. liquere to be fluid. See Liquid.] (Chem.) To dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts, acids, and alkalies. In very moist air crystals of strontites deliquesce. --Black.
Liq"ue*fy\ (-f[imac]), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liquefied (-f[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquefying (-f[imac]`[i^]ng).] [F. liqu['e]fier, L. liquere to be liquid + facere, -ficare (in comp.), to make. See Liquid, and -fy.] To convert from a solid form to that of a liquid; to melt; to dissolve; and technically, to melt by the sole agency of heat.
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Audio Help [lik-wid] Pronunciation Key 
