bitters
Use Bitters in a sentence
ərzbefore 1000; Middle English, Old English biter; cognate with German bitter, Old Norse bitr, Gothic baitrs; akin to bite
Related forms
1. acrid, biting, distasteful. 3. distressing, poignant, painful. 4. biting, nipping. 5. fierce, cruel, ruthless, relentless. 7. acrimonious, caustic, sardonic, scornful.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
bitter (ˈbɪtə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | Compare sour having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs |
| 2. | showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment: he was still bitter about the divorce |
| 3. | difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit: a bitter blow |
| 4. | cutting; sarcastic: bitter words |
| 5. | bitingly cold: a bitter night |
| —adv | |
| 6. | very; extremely (esp in the phrase bitter cold) |
| —n | |
| 7. | a thing that is bitter |
| 8. | (Brit) beer with a high hop content, with a slightly bitter taste |
| —vb | |
| 9. | to make or become bitter |
| [Old English biter; related to bītan to | |
| 'bitterly | |
| —adv | |
| 'bitterness | |
| —n | |
| bitters (ˈbɪtəz) | |
| —pl n | |
| 1. | bitter-tasting spirits of varying alcoholic content flavoured with plant extracts |
| 2. | a similar liquid containing a bitter-tasting substance, used as a tonic to stimulate the appetite or improve digestion |
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bitter
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Bitter definition
Bitterness is symbolical of affliction, misery, and servitude (Ex. 1:14; Ruth 1:20; Jer. 9:15). The Chaldeans are called the "bitter and hasty nation" (Hab. 1:6). The "gall of bitterness" expresses a state of great wickedness (Acts 8:23). A "root of bitterness" is a wicked person or a dangerous sin (Heb. 12:15). The Passover was to be eaten with "bitter herbs" (Ex. 12:8; Num. 9:11). The kind of herbs so designated is not known. Probably they were any bitter herbs obtainable at the place and time when the Passover was celebrated. They represented the severity of the servitude under which the people groaned; and have been regarded also as typical of the sufferings of Christ.
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bitters
any of numerous aromatized and often alcoholic liquids containing bitter substances (chiefly alkaloids, glycosides, or complexes), used as tonics, liqueurs, appetizers, digestives, flavourings, and ingredients to add tang or smoothness to alcoholic drinks. Bitters are prepared according to secret recipes by several manufacturers using bitter herbs, leaves, fruits, seeds, or roots and sometimes alcohol or sugar. The taste is imparted by substances such as orange peel, gentian root, rhubarb root, hop flowers, quassia-wood chips, cascarilla, cinchona bark, and quinine. Aroma is provided by juniper, cinnamon, caraway, anise, nutmeg, camomile, cloves, and other flavouring agents. Bitters are usually named according to the ingredient giving the predominant flavour, such as orange bitters and peach bitters. The alcoholic strength varies but is generally about 40 percent by volume
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