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.)
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.
adj.
Of or being a liquid.
Having been liquefied, especially melted by heating or condensed by cooling.
Main Entry: 2liquid Function: noun : a fluid (as water) that has no independent shape but has a definite volume and does not expand indefinitely and that is
only slightly compressible
Main Entry: 1liq·uid Pronunciation: 'lik-w&d Function: adjective 1: flowing freely like water 2: having
the properties of a liquid : being neither solid nor gaseous
Of, relating to, or being an asset that may be bought or sold in a short period of time with relatively small price changes engendered by the transaction. A U.S. Treasury bill
is an example of a very liquid asset. (Many issues of municipal bonds are not very liquid.) Compare illiquid 1.
Of, relating to, or being an
investment position in which most of the assets are in money or near money. This kind of position generally earns a relatively low return but allows the investor to take advantage of other investment
opportunities.
Main Entry: liq·uid Function: adjective 1 a: consisting of cash or capable of ready conversion into cash <liquid assets> b:
capable of covering current liabilities out of current assets esp. in a rapid manner <a liquid insurer> 2: of or relating to a security or commodity with enough shares
or units outstanding to hinder significant price variation from large transactions
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.
Liq"uid\ (l[i^]k"w[i^]d), a. [L. liquidus, fr. liquere to be fluid or liquid; cf. Skr. r[=i] to ooze, drop, l[=i] to melt.]1. Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid. Yea, 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 freely among themselves, but do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of gases and vapors do; neither solid nor a["e]riform; 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. Liquid glass. See Soluble glass, under Glass.
Liq"uid\, n. 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 a["e]riform. Note: 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. Liquid measure, a measure, or system of measuring, for liquids, by the gallon, quart, pint, gill, etc.
Liq"ui*date\ (l[i^]k"w[i^]*d[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Liquidated (-d[=a]`t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Liquidating.] [LL. liquidatus, p. p. of liquidare to liquidate, fr. L. liquidus liquid, clear. See Liquid.]1. (Law) To determine by agreement or by litigation the precise amount of (indebtedness); or, where there is an indebtedness to more than one person, to determine the precise amount of (each indebtedness); to make the amount of (an indebtedness) clear and certain. A debt or demand is liquidated whenever the amount due is agreed on by the parties, or fixed by the operation of law. --15 Ga. Rep. 321. If our epistolary accounts were fairly liquidated, I believe you would be brought in considerable debtor. --Chesterfield. 2. In an extended sense: To ascertain the amount, or the several amounts, of, and apply assets toward the discharge of (an indebtedness). --Abbott. 3. To discharge; to pay off, as an indebtedness. Friburg was ceded to Zurich by Sigismund to liquidate a debt of a thousand florins. --W. Coxe. 4. To make clear and intelligible. Time only can liquidate the meaning of all parts of a compound system. --A. Hamilton. 5. To make liquid. [Obs.] Liquidated damages (Law), damages the amount of which is fixed or ascertained. --Abbott.
Liq"uor\ (l[i^]k"[~e]r), n. [OE. licour, licur, OF. licur, F. liqueur, fr. L. liquor, fr. liquere to be liquid. See Liquid, and cf. Liqueur.]1. Any liquid substance, as water, milk, blood, sap, juice, or the like. 2. Specifically, alcoholic or spirituous fluid, either distilled or fermented, as brandy, wine, whisky, beer, etc. 3. (Pharm.) A solution of a medicinal substance in water; -- distinguished from tincture and aqua. Note: The U. S. Pharmacop[oe]ia includes, in this class of preparations, all aqueous solutions without sugar, in which the substance acted on is wholly soluble in water, excluding those in which the dissolved matter is gaseous or very volatile, as in the aqu[ae] or waters. --U. S. Disp. Labarraque's liquor (Old Chem.), a solution of an alkaline hypochlorite, as sodium hypochlorite, used in bleaching and as a disinfectant. Liquor of flints, or Liquor silicum (Old Chem.), soluble glass; -- so called because formerly made from powdered flints. See Soluble glass, under Glass. Liquor of Libavius. (Old Chem.) See Fuming liquor of Libavius, under Fuming. Liquor sanguinis (s[a^]n"gw[i^]n*[i^]s) (Physiol.), the blood plasma. Liquor thief, a tube for taking samples of liquor from a cask through the bung hole. To be in liquor, to be intoxicated.
Pro*lix"\ (?; 277), a. [L. prolixus extended, long, prolix, probably fr. pro before, forward + liqui to flow, akin to liquidus liquid; cf. OL. lixa water: cf. F. prolixe. See Liquid.]1. Extending to a great length; unnecessarily long; minute in narration or argument; excessively particular in detail; -- rarely used except with reference to discourse written or spoken; as, a prolix oration; a prolix poem; a prolix sermon. With wig prolix, down flowing to his waist. --Cowper. 2. Indulging in protracted discourse; tedious; wearisome; -- applied to a speaker or writer. Syn: Long; diffuse; prolonged; protracted; tedious; tiresome; wearisome. Usage: Prolix, Diffuse. A prolix writer delights in circumlocution, extended detail, and trifling particulars. A diffuse writer is fond of amplifying, and abounds in epithets, figures, and illustrations. Diffuseness often arises from an exuberance of imagination; prolixity is generally connected with a want of it.
Sol"id\, a. [L. solidus, probably akin to sollus whole, entire, Gr. ???: cf. F. solide. Cf. Consolidate,Soda, Solder, Soldier, Solemn.]1. Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; -- opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand. 2. Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy. 3. (Arith.) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches. Note: In this sense, cubics now generally used. 4. Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall. 5. Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; -- opposed to hyphened. 6. Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine. The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer. --Milton. These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men. --Dryden. The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had projected in a poem. --J. A. Symonds. 7. Sound; not weakly; as, a solid constitution of body. --I. Watts. 8. (Bot.) Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem. 9. (Metaph.) Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; -- applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter. 10. (Print.) Not having the lines separated by leads; not open. 11. United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate. [Polit. Cant. U.S.] Solid angle. (Geom.) See under Angle. Solid color, an even color; one not shaded or variegated. Solid green. See Emerald green (a), under Green. Solid measure (Arith.), a measure for volumes, in which the units are each a cube of fixed linear magnitude, as a cubic foot, yard, or the like; thus, a foot, in solid measure, or a solid foot, contains 1,728 solid inches. Solid newel (Arch.), a newel into which the ends of winding stairs are built, in distinction from a hollow newel. See under Hollow, a. Solid problem (Geom.), a problem which can be construed geometrically, only by the intersection of a circle and a conic section or of two conic sections. --Hutton. Solid square (Mil.), a square body or troops in which the ranks and files are equal. Syn: Hard; firm; compact; strong; substantial; stable; sound; real; valid; true; just; weighty; profound; grave; important. Usage: Solid, Hard. These words both relate to the internal constitution of bodies; but hardnotes a more impenetrable nature or a firmer adherence of the component parts than solid. Hard is opposed to soft, and solid to fluid, liquid, open, or hollow. Wood is usually solid; but some kinds of wood are hard, and others are soft. Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard house, More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised. --Shak. I hear his thundering voice resound, And trampling feet than shake the solid ground. --Dryden.
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Audio Help [lik-wid] Pronunciation Key 
k
uid·ly adv. 
