Meaning & Definition of word "Sour"
to
Sour
/saʊər/
verb:
- 1. to turn sour; to spoil.
- Example: The milk began to sour after being left out for too long.
adjective:
- 1. having an acidic taste or smell; like that of vinegar or lemons.
- Example: The sour lemon made my mouth pucker.
- 2. in a bad mood or unfriendly; irritable.
- Example: She had a sour expression on her face when she heard the news.
- 3. having a harsh or unpleasant quality.
- Example: The sour sound of the alarm jolted everyone awake.
Etymology
From Old English 'sūre', related to the German 'sauer' and Dutch 'zuur'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
sour grapes:
A term used to describe pretending to despise something one cannot have.
sour mood:
A state of being irritable or unfriendly.
sour note:
An unpleasant or unwelcome remark or feeling.
sour taste:
A feeling of disappointment or resentment.
Related Words
acerbic:
Sharply or bitingly critical, sarcastic, or ironic in temper or tone.
tart:
Sharp to the taste; acid or sour.
bilious:
Affected by or associated with nausea or vomiting; ill-tempered.
vinegary:
Having a sharp, strong acid taste.
Slang Meanings of sour
Meaning: Sourpuss
Example Sentence: She's such a sourpuss; she never smiles.
Meaning: Sour face
Example Sentence: He walked in with a sour face after hearing the news.