I. ˈsau̇(-ə)r adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English sūr; akin to Old High German sūr sour, Lithuanian sūrus salty
Date: before 12th century
1. : causing or characterized by the one of the four basic taste sensations that is produced chiefly by acids
sour pickles
— compare bitter , salt , sweet
2.
a.
(1) : having the acid taste or smell of or as if of fermentation : turned
sour milk
(2) : of or relating to fermentation
b. : smelling or tasting of decay : rancid , rotten
sour breath
c.
(1) : bad , wrong
a project gone sour
(2) : hostile , disenchanted
went sour on Marxism
3.
a. : unpleasant , distasteful
b. : cross , sullen
c. : not up to the usual, expected, or standard quality or pitch
4. : acid in reaction — used especially of soil
5. : containing malodorous sulfur compounds — used especially of petroleum products
• sour·ish ˈsau̇(-ə)r-ish adjective
• sour·ly adverb
• sour·ness noun
II. noun
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : something sour
b. : the primary taste sensation produced by acid stimuli
2. : a cocktail consisting of a liquor (as whiskey), lemon or lime juice, sugar, and sometimes ice
III. verb
Date: 14th century
intransitive verb
: to become sour
transitive verb
: to make sour