drink

I. drink¹ S1 W2 /drɪŋk/ BrE AmE verb (past tense drank /dræŋk/, past participle drunk /drʌŋk/)
[Word Family: noun: ↑drink, ↑drinker, ↑drinking, ↑drunk, ↑drunkenness; adjective: ↑drunk, ↑drunken; verb: ↑drink; adverb: ↑drunkenly]
[Language: Old English; Origin: drincan]

1. [intransitive and transitive] to take liquid into your mouth and swallow it:
You should drink plenty of water.
What would you like to drink?
Take a seat while I get you something to drink.
She filled the glass and drank.
2. [intransitive] to drink alcohol, especially regularly or too much:
He’s been drinking heavily since his wife died.
I don’t drink.
Don’t drink and drive.
My flatmate Cherry drinks like a fish (=regularly drinks a lot of alcohol).
3. drink yourself silly/into a stupor/to death etc to drink so much alcohol that you become very drunk or unconscious, or die:
If he goes on this way he’ll drink himself to death.
4. drink somebody under the table to drink more alcohol than someone but not feel as ill as them:
He could drink nearly anyone under the table.
5. What are you drinking? spoken used to offer to buy someone a drink, especially in a ↑pub
6. drink sb’s health British English to wish someone good health before having an alcoholic drink
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ sip (also take a sip) to drink something very slowly
▪ slurp informal to drink something in a noisy way
▪ gulp something down (also down something) to drink all of something very quickly
▪ knock something back informal to drink all of an alcoholic drink very quickly
▪ swig (also take/have a swig) informal to drink something quickly with large mouthfuls, especially from a bottle
▪ swallow to make food or drink go down your throat and towards your stomach: She swallowed the bitter medicine instead of spitting it out.
drink something ↔ in phrasal verb
to look at, listen to, feel, or smell something in order to enjoy it:
She just sat there, drinking in the atmosphere.
drink to something phrasal verb
1. to wish someone success, good luck, good health etc before having an alcoholic drink:
Let’s drink to your success in your new job.
2. I’ll drink to that! spoken used to agree with what someone has said
drink up phrasal verb
to drink all of something
drink something ↔ up
Drink up your milk.
II. drink² S1 W2 BrE AmE noun
[Word Family: noun: ↑drink, ↑drinker, ↑drinking, ↑drunk, ↑drunkenness; adjective: ↑drunk, ↑drunken; verb: ↑drink; adverb: ↑drunkenly]
1. [countable] an amount of liquid that you drink, or the act of drinking something
drink of
Have a drink of water.
He took a drink of his coffee.
2. [uncountable and countable] liquid that you can drink:
What’s your favourite drink?
food and drink companies
3. [uncountable and countable] an alcoholic drink:
He’d obviously had a few drinks.
Let’s go for a drink.
4. [uncountable] the habit of drinking too much alcohol, in a way that is very bad for your health:
The marriage ended because of her husband’s drink problem (=he drank too much alcohol).
They had driven him to drink (=made him start drinking too much alcohol regularly).
After her retirement from the stage she took to drink (=started drinking too much alcohol).
5. drinks [plural] British English a social occasion when you have alcoholic drinks and sometimes food
for drinks
Don’t forget we’re invited to the Jones’ for drinks on Sunday.
6. the drink old-fashioned the sea, a lake, or another large area of water
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1, 2, & 3)
■ verbs
▪ have a drink (=drink something, especially an alcoholic drink) Let’s go and have a drink.
▪ take a drink He took another long drink of water.
▪ go for a drink (=go to a pub or bar) Why don’t we go for a drink after work?
▪ buy/get somebody a drink (=in a pub or a bar) It’s my turn to buy you a drink.
▪ pour (somebody) a drink She got out two glasses and poured us a drink.
▪ make (somebody) a drink (=make tea or coffee) Shall I make you a hot drink?
▪ sip your drink (=drink it in very small amounts) Connie was sitting at the table, sipping her drink slowly.
▪ down your drink (=drink it very quickly) He downed his drink and stood up.
■ adjectives
▪ a soft drink (=which does not contain alcohol) Would you like some wine, or a soft drink?
▪ an alcoholic drink (=containing alcohol) Beer, wine, and other alcoholic drinks will be available.
▪ a fizzy drink British English, a carbonated drink American English (=with bubbles of gas) Dentists have warned that sweet fizzy drinks are bad for children’s teeth.
▪ a hot/warm drink Come inside and I’ll make you a hot drink.
▪ a cool/cold drink They were all out in the garden, sipping cool drinks.
▪ a refreshing drink (=making you feel less tired or hot) Enjoy a refreshing drink in our lakeside café.
▪ a stiff/strong drink (=a drink with a lot of strong alcohol) He was in need of a stiff drink to calm himself down.
▪ a relaxing/leisurely drink (=that you drink in a slow relaxed way) The hotel terrace is an ideal place to enjoy a relaxing drink.
▪ a diet drink/a low-calorie drink (=containing less sugar than ordinary ones) People are buying more and more diet drinks.
▪ a celebratory drink (=in order to celebrate something) After winning the game, they went out for a celebratory drink.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ drink something that you drink: ‘Would you like a drink?’ ‘Yes, I’ll have a lemonade.’ | They had a few drinks in a local bar.
▪ something to drink especially spoken a drink: Can I get you something to drink?
▪ soft drink a cold drink that does not contain alcohol, especially one that is sweet and has bubbles in it: Coca-Cola and other soft drinks
▪ toast a drink, usually of wine, that a group of people have on a special occasion, for example to celebrate something or wish someone luck in the future: At midnight they all drank a toast to the New Year.
▪ beverage /ˈbevərɪdʒ/ formal especially written a drink – often used on ↑menus and signs: Beer is the most popular alcoholic beverage. | the list of beverages

soft drink

ˈsoft drink BrE AmE noun [countable]
a cold drink that does not contain alcohol

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

drink

drink [drink drinks drank drinking drunk] noun, verb [drɪŋk] [drɪŋk]

noun
1. countable, uncountable a liquid for drinking; an amount of a liquid that you drink
• Can I have a drink?
• soft drinks (= cold drinks without alcohol)
• a drink of water
• food and drink

• She took a drink from the glass and then put it down.

2. countable, uncountable alcohol or an alcoholic drink; sth that you drink on a social occasion
• They went for a drink.
• The drinks are on me (= I'll pay for them).
• I need a stiff drink (= a very strong drink).
• (BrE) He's got a drink problem.
• (NAmE) He has a drinking problem.
• (humorous) The children are enough to drive me to drink.
• (BrE) They came home the worse for drink (= drunk).

• She took to drink (= often drank too much alcohol) after her marriage broke up.

3. drinks plural (BrE) a social occasion where you have alcoholic drinks
• Would you like to come for drinks on Sunday?
• a drinks party
see the demon drink at demon, meat and drink to sb at meat
Word Origin:
Old English drincan (verb), drinc (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drinken and German trinken.
Thesaurus:
drink noun
1. C, U
• Food and drinks will be available.
soft drink • |formal beverage •
a/an hot/cold/alcoholic/non-alcoholic drink/beverage
2. C, usually sing.
• She took a drink from the glass, then put it down.
sip • • gulp • |informal swig •
a drink/sip/gulp/swig of sth
have/take a drink/sip/gulp/swig
3. C, U
• Let's go for a drink after work.
alcohol • |especially AmE liquor • |especially BrE spirit • |informal booze •
alcoholic drinks/liquor
strong drink/liquor
turn to/keep off/stay off (the) drink/alcohol/booze
a/an drink/alcohol/booze problem
Example Bank:
• Can I buy you a drink?
• Do you want a drink?
• Do you want ice in your drink?
• He knocked back his drink in one go and ordered another one.
• He poured himself a stiff drink to calm his nerves.
• He taught her how to mix drinks.
• He took a drink of his beer and sat down.
• Her money problems drove her to drink.
• I could do with a nice cool drink.
• I really need a cold drink.
• I'll have a drink of milk, please.
• I'll just drink my drink then we can go.
• Let's go grab a drink.
• Plastic drink bottles can be recycled.
• She had a hot drink and went to bed.
• She suspected her boss had a drink problem.
• She took a bottle from the drinks cabinet.
• She took a long drink of cold water.
• She went around refilling everyone's drinks.
• Some idiot spilled my drink.
• The entrance charge includes a free drink.
• The robbers spiked his drink before taking his wallet and passport.
• They invited us for pre-dinner drinks.
• They were enjoying a drink by the pool.
• We ordered a round of drinks while waiting for a table.
• We were enjoying a leisurely drink before dinner.
• We've been invited to a drinks party.
• Would you like to go for a drink after work?
• You will be offered a welcome drink on arrival at the hotel.
• a stand serving food and drinks
• Food and drinks will be available.
• He downed his drink.
• I felt better after having a drink of water.
• Jim's got a drink problem.
• She bought another round of drinks.
• She took to drink after her marriage broke up.
• The children are enough to drive me to drink.
• The drinks are on me
• There are crisps and fizzy drinks in the kitchen.
• They came home the worse for drink.
• You should stay away from the drink.
• a drinking problem
Idioms: drink like a fish ▪ drink somebody under the table ▪ drink somebody's health

Derived: drink something in ▪ drink to somebody ▪ drink up

verb (drank [dræŋk] ; [dræŋk] , drunk [drʌŋk] ; [drʌŋk] )
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (sth) to take liquid into your mouth and swallow it
• What would you like to drink?
• In hot weather, drink plenty of water.
• I don't drink coffee.

• He was drinking straight from the bottle.

2. intransitive, transitive to drink alcohol, especially when it is done regularly
• He doesn't drink.
• Don't drink and drive (= drive a car after drinking alcohol).
• She's been drinking heavily since she lost her job.
• ~ sth I drank far too much last night.
• ~ yourself + adj. He had drunk himself unconscious on vodka.
see also drunk
more at eat, drink and be merry at eat, you can lead/take a horse to water, but you can't make it drink at horse _n.

Word Origin:
Old English drincan (verb), drinc (noun), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch drinken and German trinken.
Thesaurus:
drink verb T, I
• He was drinking straight from the bottle.
sip • • suck • • drain • |informal swig • • booze •
drink/sip/swig from a bottle/glass of sth
drink/sip/drain your drink/pint
drink/sip/swig beer
drink/sip tea/coffee/water
Example Bank:
• At that age they can legally drink alcohol.
• Do you want something to eat or drink?
• Drink up, and let's go home.
• Go and get yourself something to eat and drink.
• He drank from a tumbler.
• He filled a cup with water and drank it down in one gulp.
• He knew that he was probably drinking himself to death.
• He's been drinking heavily since he lost his job.
• I never drink alone.
• I opened the can and drank thirstily.
• I pulled the ring-top from the can and drank greedily.
• One way of persuading people to drink sensibly is to provide good-tasting alternatives with less alcohol.
• She had been drinking steadily since the early morning.
• She had never been someone who drank regularly.
• She was drinking soda through a straw.
• Simon was drinking like a fish that evening.
• The campaign aims to persuade people not to drink and drive.
• ads that tell people to drink responsibly
• Don't drink and drive.
• He doesn't drink.
• He drank his lemonade through a straw.
• I don't drink coffee.
• In hot weather, you should drink plenty of water.
• She drinks like a fish.