beer

beer — noun

1. a drink with alcohol that people make from grains

1.nounA1
Definition

a drink with alcohol that people make from grains

Example

At the barbecue, Uncle Ray drank beer with spicy chicken wings.

drink beer

This small town makes beer from local rice and clean mountain water.

make beer from

Common collocations
  • cold beer
  • dark beer
  • drink beer
  • make beer
  • types of beer
Synonyms
  • brew

    informal and common in speech

  • lager

    a common type of beer, not the broad word for all kinds

  • ale

    a particular type of beer, often used more narrowly

Grammar Patterns

drink beer

make beer

types of beer

Usage Note

Usually uncountable when you mean the drink in general, as in drink beer or make beer. Distinguish from sense 2, where beer means one serving that you can count.

Common Mistakes

I don't drink beers.
I don't drink beer.
use uncountable beer when talking about the drink in general.

2. a glass, bottle, can, or other serving of this drink

2.nounA1
Definition

a glass, bottle, can, or other serving of this drink

Example

Nina ordered a beer and a sandwich at the station cafe.

order a beer

Could I get two beers for our table by the window?

two beers = separate servings

Common collocations
  • have a beer
  • order a beer
  • buy a beer
  • two beers
  • a cold beer
Synonyms
  • drink

    much broader because it can mean any beverage

  • pint

    one measured serving, especially in British use

  • bottle

    only works when the beer is served in a bottle

Grammar Patterns

have a beer

order a beer

buy a beer

Usage Note

Countable in this sense and often used after have, order, get, or buy. Distinguish from sense 1, which names the drink itself rather than one glass, bottle, or can.

Common Mistakes

We bought three beer for the picnic.
We bought three beers for the picnic.
add -s when counting separate servings.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For sense 1, beer is the normal broad word. You can use it for the drink in general or for many different kinds. Brew is informal and often appears in casual speech, especially when someone is talking about drinking rather than style. Lager and ale are not full replacements for beer because they name particular kinds. Lager often suggests a lighter, crisp style, while ale is a more traditional category and can sound a little more specific. If a friend says, "Let's get a beer," any kind may be possible. If a menu lists lager or ale, it is naming a choice inside the wider group of beer.

beer ↗brew ↗lagerale

Common collocations

Nouns

  • beer bottle
  • beer can
  • beer glass

Phrases

  • drink beer
  • serve beer

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Beer comes from Old English beor, an old Germanic word for an alcoholic drink. The word has been in English for a very long time and stayed connected to drinks made by brewing grain.