wine

[wahyn]

noun

1. the fermented juice of grapes, made in many varieties, such as red, white, sweet, dry, still, and sparkling, for use as a beverage, in cooking, in religious rites, etc., and usually having an alcoholic content of 14 percent or less.

2. a particular variety of such fermented grape juice.

   port and sherry wines.

3. the juice, fermented or unfermented, of various other fruits or plants, used as a beverage, sauce, etc..

   gooseberry wine; currant wine.

4. a dark reddish color, as of red wines.

5. Pharmacology.,  vinum.

6. something that invigorates, cheers, or intoxicates like wine.

7. British.

   1. a social gathering at which wine is the major beverage.

   2. a party, especially one held by university students, for drinking wine.

8. Obsolete.,  intoxication due to the drinking of wine.

adjective

1. dark red in color.

verb (used with object)

wined, wining 

1. to supply with wine.

   He wined his cellar with rare vintages.

verb (used without object)

wined, wining 

1. to drink wine.

wine

/ waɪn /

noun

1. 1. an alcoholic drink produced by the fermenting of grapes with water and sugar

   2. an alcoholic drink produced in this way from other fruits, flowers, etc

      elderberry wine

2. 1. a dark red colour, sometimes with a purplish tinge

   2. ( as adjective )

      wine-coloured

3. anything resembling wine in its intoxicating or invigorating effect

4. obsolete,  pharmacol fermented grape juice containing medicaments

5. a dialect word for water

6. something new added to or imposed upon an old or established order

verb

1. (intr) to drink wine

2. to entertain or be entertained with wine and fine food

Other Word Forms

• wineless adjective
• winish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wine¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (noun), Old English wīn (cognate with Dutch wijn, German Wein, Old Norse vīn, Gothic wein ), ultimately derived from Latin vīnum (cognate with Greek oînos )

Word History and Origins

Origin of wine¹

Old English wīn, from Latin vīnum; related to Greek oinos, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. new wine in old bottles, something new placed in or superimposed on an old or existing form, system, etc. Matthew 9:17.

2. wine and dine, to entertain lavishly.

   They wined and dined us in order to get us to sign the new contract.

Example Sentences

It reminds me of Sea Ranch, my favorite place in the world, where I’ll eat oysters and drink white wine and watch the sunset.

From Los Angeles Times

Guests then enjoyed a lunch reception at the Great Hall of the People where they could choose between a red or white Chinese wine.

From BBC

Kim left the North Korean capital on Monday evening onboard his armoured train, which is said to include a restaurant car serving fine French wines and dishes like fresh lobster.

From BBC

A gallery blushing in a deep wine color, with the theme of “Leisure and Labor in the American Metropolis,” is almost ready.

From Los Angeles Times

North Wales may seem an unlikely region for wine making, but the number of vineyards there, and right across Wales, has increased over the last 20 years.

From BBC

Related Words

• color 
• lavender 
• lilac 
• mauve 
• periwinkle 
• plum 
• violet