Beverage

Pronunciation

Origin

Old French bevrage, from boivre ("to drink"), from Latin bibō. Cognate to imbibe.

Full definition of beverage

Noun

1. A liquid to consume, usually excluding water; a drink. This may include tea, coffee, liquor, beer, milk, juice, or soft drinks.
• ThomsonHe knew no beverage but the flowing stream.
2. (slang, archaic) A treat, or drink money.

Usage notes

More elevated than plainer drink. Beverage is of French origin, while drink is of Old English origin, and this stylistic difference by origin is common; see list of English words with dual French and Anglo-Saxon variations.

The word beverage is rarely used in British English.

Hyponyms