cocktail

cocktail — noun

1. A drink created by blending several liquids together, usually containing alcohol

1.nounB1
Definition

A drink created by blending several liquids together, usually containing alcohol and often mixed with fruit juice, syrup, or other flavourings before serving.

Example

Ravi ordered a fruity cocktail made with rum and fresh pineapple juice.

making a cocktail: mixed with [ingredient] and [ingredient]

The bartender at the rooftop bar shook the cocktail with ice before pouring it.

Common collocations
  • mix a cocktail
  • shake a cocktail
  • stir a cocktail
  • cocktail recipe
  • cocktail glass
  • fruit cocktail (as drink)
  • non-alcoholic cocktail
Synonyms
  • mixed drink

    more general term; 'cocktail' implies a specific recipe with flavour balancing

  • mocktail

    a non-alcoholic cocktail; used for parties or designated drivers

  • beverage

    much broader category that includes water, tea, and soft drinks

Usage Note

Often countable. You can order 'a cocktail' or refer to the drink type generally as 'cocktails' (plural uncountable). Use 'non-alcoholic cocktail' or 'mocktail' for drinks without alcohol.

Common Mistakes

She ordered a cocktail and a beer, then mixed the cocktail with the beer.
She ordered a cocktail and a beer separately.
'Cocktail' refers to a pre-mixed drink, not something you make by adding drinks together at the table.

2. A combination of several different things, qualities, or situations that togethe

2.nounB2
Definition

A combination of several different things, qualities, or situations that together produce a particular, often strong or striking, effect.

Example

The festival was a cocktail of colourful lights, loud music, and excited crowds.

a cocktail of [things] — pattern for describing mixed elements

The new tax policy created a dangerous cocktail of rising costs and falling wages.

dangerous cocktail of [negative elements]

Common collocations
  • a cocktail of emotions
  • a deadly/lethal cocktail
  • a strange cocktail
  • a potent cocktail
  • a cocktail of drugs
  • a cocktail of factors
Synonyms
  • blend

    suggests harmony between the elements; 'cocktail' often implies contrast or surprise

  • mix

    more neutral; 'cocktail' is more vivid and often negative

  • combination

    neutral and broad; less emotional or judgemental than 'cocktail'

Antonyms
  • uniformity

    the state of being all the same, with no mixture of different parts

Grammar Patterns

cocktail + of + plural noun

Usage Note

Usually appears in the singular with 'of' plus a series of nouns. Often describes unexpected or problematic combinations. Common with adjectives like 'dangerous', 'strange', 'potent', 'lethal'.

Common Mistakes

The dish was a cocktail vegetables.
The dish was a cocktail of colourful vegetables.
Requires 'of' before the list of elements.

3. A cold starter dish containing bite-sized items such as seafood, fruit, or raw v

3.nounA2
Definition

A cold starter dish containing bite-sized items such as seafood, fruit, or raw vegetables, usually served in a glass or small bowl and eaten before the main course.

Example

The waiter brought a prawn cocktail served in a glass with pink sauce.

prawn cocktail — common seafood starter

For a starter, Priya chose a fruit cocktail with melon, grapes, and berries.

Common collocations
  • prawn cocktail
  • shrimp cocktail
  • fruit cocktail
  • seafood cocktail
  • cocktail sauce
  • starter cocktail
Synonyms
  • starter

    broader term for any first course; 'cocktail' specifies a cold dish

  • appetizer

    more common in American English; 'cocktail' is a specific type

  • hors d'oeuvre

    often smaller finger foods; 'cocktail' is more substantial

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a single serving ('a prawn cocktail'). Uncountable in general reference ('Would you like some cocktail?'). 'Fruit cocktail' usually refers to a mixture of canned or fresh fruit served as a starter or dessert.

Common Mistakes

The cocktail was hot and cooked in an oven.
The cocktail was cold and served as a starter.
Cocktails in the food sense are always cold dishes, not cooked meals.
Idioms

Molotov cocktail

idiom

A simple explosive weapon made from a bottle filled with flammable liquid and a cloth wick, lit and thrown by hand.

Protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the police vehicles during the riot.

cocktail party

idiom

A social gathering, usually in the early evening, where cocktails and other drinks are served along with light snacks.

The firm invited all its employees to a cocktail party at the city's best hotel.

cocktail — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While 'cocktail' refers specifically to a mixed drink made with spirits and flavourings, 'mixed drink' is a broader term covering any drink made by combining ingredients (including simple mixes like rum and cola). 'Mocktail' is a non-alcoholic version of a cocktail, popular at events where some guests do not drink alcohol. 'Beverage' is the most general word and includes water, tea, juice, and soft drinks — far too broad to substitute for 'cocktail'. 'Highball' is a specific type of cocktail made with a spirit and a larger proportion of a non-alcoholic mixer (like whisky and ginger ale). In everyday use: 'I ordered a cocktail at the bar' suggests a carefully crafted drink, while 'I ordered a mixed drink' could simply mean a spirit with a single mixer. If you want no alcohol, ask for 'a mocktail' rather than 'a non-alcoholic cocktail', which is more formal.

mixed drinkmocktailbeverage ↗highball

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • mix a cocktail
  • shake a cocktail
  • stir a cocktail
  • garnish a cocktail
  • serve cocktails
  • cocktail of the month
  • cocktail in hand

Prepositions

  • cocktail of (something)

Etymology

French (possible)English (American)

The origin of the word 'cocktail' is uncertain, though it first appeared in print in the United States in 1806, describing a drink made with spirits, sugar, water, and bitters. One popular theory is that it comes from the French word 'coquetier', meaning an egg cup, which was used to serve mixed drinks in New Orleans. Another explanation links it to 'cock-tailed horse', a term for a mixed-breed horse with a tail that stuck up — by analogy, a 'cocktail' was a mixed drink. The word expanded from the drink sense to mean any mixture in the early 20th century, and the food sense (cold starter dish) appeared around the 1920s.