adjective / verb / noun
sour
SOWW-er/ˈsaʊər/
Having an acidic taste.
The woman puckers her lips as she tastes the sour lemon.
Etymology
Old English sur described both a sharp, acidic taste and something fermented. The selected meaning continues this old taste sense, retaining its connection with tart or fermented foods.
In context
symptoms of a sour taste in the mouth a sense that something is stuck in the throat or in the chest while heartburn is often relieved by acid suppressing medications
More examples
- These green apples are sourer than the red ones.
- A little sugar softens the sour taste of the sauce.
- Fermentation sours the cabbage and gives it a tangy flavor.
Forms
sour · sourer · sourest · sours · soured · souring
sourness noun — The quality of having an acidic taste.
Similar words
- tart
- Often suggests a pleasantly sharp taste, especially in fruit.
- tangy
- Suggests a lively, pleasantly sharp flavor rather than harsh acidity.