Sour

/ˈsaʊ.ə/ · adjective

Meaning

Tasting of acidity..

Definitions by Sense

1. Tasting of acidity.
2. Made rancid by fermentation, etc.
3. Tasting or smelling rancid.
4. (of a person's character) Hostile or unfriendly.
5. Excessively acidic and thus infertile. (of soil)
6. Containing excess sulfur. (of petroleum)
7. Unfortunate or unfavorable.
8. (music) Off-pitch, out of tune.

Example Sentences

Lemons have a sour taste.

All sour things, as vinegar, provoke appetite.

A few types of molecules get sensed by receptors on the tongue. Protons coming off of acids ping receptors for "sour." Sugars get received as "sweet." Bitter, salty, and the proteinaceous flavor umami all set off their own neural cascades.

Don't drink that milk; it's turned sour.

His sour breath makes it unpleasing to talk to him.

He gave me a sour look.

He was a scholar […] / Lofty and sour to them that loved him not, / But to those men that sought him sweet as summer.

sour land

Synonyms for sour

Antonyms for sour

Related Words

Word Forms

• sourer
• sourest
• sower
• sowre
• sours
• souring
• soured
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• sour
• souredst
• soureth
• -

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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