alcohol
alcohol
noun
/ˈælkəhɒl/
uncountable
1 drinks such as beer, wine, etc. that can make people drunk
He never drinks alcohol.
alcohol abuse/use/dependence
the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation.
Licences to sell alcohol are granted by local councils.
He was unable to overcome his addiction to alcohol.
Collocations Diet and exercise
Culture licensing laws
TOPICS Social issues B1
TOPICS Drinks B1
Collocations
adjective
excess
excessive
pure
… of alcohol
drop
unit
bottle
verb + alcohol
consume
drink
avoid
alcohol + noun
content
level
consumption
phrases
under the influence of alcohol
2 the clear liquid that is found in drinks such as beer, wine, etc. and is used in medicines, cleaning products, etc.
Wine contains about 10% alcohol.
The food and drink industry has responded to the demand for low- and no-alcohol drinks.
levels of alcohol in the blood
He was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
He pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol.
low-alcohol beer
alcohol-free beer
SEE ALSO ethyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol
TOPICS Social issues B1
TOPICS Physics and chemistry B1
TOPICS Drinks B1
SEE ALSO absolute alcohol
Word Origin
mid 16th cent.: French (earlier form of alcool), or from medieval Latin, from Arabic al-kuḥl ‘the kohl’. In early use the term referred to powders, specifically kohl, and especially those obtained by sublimation, when a solid turns directly into a vapour upon heating; later ‘a distilled spirit’ (mid 17th cent.).