liquid
/ˈlɪkwɪd/ · liq·uid
noun
- A substance that is flowing, and keeping no shape, such as water; a substance of which the molecules, while not tending to separate from one another like those of a gas, readily change their relative position, and which therefore retains no definite shape, except that determined by the containing receptacle; an inelastic fluid. A liquid can freeze to become a solid or evaporate into a gas.
- A class of consonant sounds that includes l and r. The liquid consonants in the word 'liquid' are 'l' and 'r'.
adjective
- Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid and not gaseous; composed of particles that move freely among each other on the slightest pressure. Liquid nitrogen is a very cold substance.
- Of an asset, easily sold or disposed of without losing value. The company's liquid assets were used to pay off debts.
- Of a market, having sufficient trading activity to make buying or selling easy. The liquid market made it easy to buy and sell stocks.
Did you know? The word 'liquid' comes from the Latin word for 'clear', reflecting the transparent and flowing nature of liquids.