English

Noun

liqueur ‎(countable and uncountable, plural liqueurs)

1. A flavored alcoholic beverage that is usually very sweet and contains a high percentage of alcohol. Cordials are a type of liqueur manufactured using the infusion process as opposed to the essence and distillation processes.

Related terms

Translations

See also

• cordial
• ratafia

Verb

liqueur ‎(third-person singular simple present liqueurs, present participle liqueuring, simple past and past participle liqueured)

1. to flavor or treat (wine) with a liqueur
2. to top up bottles of sparkling wine with a sugar solution

   Every champagne has to be liqueured after its disgorgement, to replace the inevitable loss.

French

Etymology

Borrowing from Latin liquor.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /likœʁ/

Noun

liqueur f ‎(plural liqueurs)

1. alcoholic liqueur
2. (literary) drinkable liquid
3. (Canada) fizzy drink, pop
4. (obsolete) liquid

Derived terms

• liqueur de dosage
• liqueur de tirage

Usage notes

• Liqueur and liquor are false friends: French liqueur never applies to alcoholic drinks in general.
• The Quebec use of the term is frequently targeted as an anglicism (from liquor), even though the meaning ("non-alcoholic drink") is older and has little connection to either English term.