# vinegar

Pronunciation: US say "VIN-uh-gur" /ˈvɪnəɡɚ/; UK say "VIN-uh-guh" /ˈvɪnəɡə/

## Noun

1. A sour liquid, essentially a dilute solution of acetic acid, produced by fermenting alcohol and used as a condiment or a preservative.
   - Simple: A sour liquid made from fermented alcohol, used to flavor food or keep it fresh.
   - _Restaurants keep vinegar on hand to brighten sauces and dressings._
   - _A splash of vinegar cuts through the richness of fried food._
2. A particular variety of vinegar, distinguished by its source or flavor, such as balsamic, cider, or rice.
   - Simple: A type of vinegar, such as apple, wine, or malt vinegar.
   - _Italian kitchens prize aged vinegars for finishing their dishes._
   - _A good balsamic vinegar can cost more than a bottle of wine._
3. Vigorous energy and vitality, the kind a lively person has plenty of. *(colloquial, US)*
   - Simple: Strong, lively energy that keeps a person going.
   - _Two-a-day practices in August took the vinegar out of even the cockiest freshmen._
   - _At eighty-five, she's still full of vinegar and runs the county historical society herself._

## Verb

4. To season, flavor, or otherwise treat food or another substance with vinegar.
   - Simple: To add vinegar to food in order to flavor or preserve it.
   - _The chef vinegars the shredded cabbage to give the slaw its tang._
   - _Picklers vinegar the vegetables before packing them into jars._

## Origin

From Middle English vynegre, from Old French vinaigre, formed from vyn ("wine") and egre ("sour"), based on Latin vīnum ("wine") and ācer ("sour"). It displaced the Old English word æċed.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/vinegar (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).