vinegar Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the alcohol in wine or cider and used as a condiment or food preservative
acetum.
noun dilute acetic acid

OE. vinegre, F. vinaigre; vin wine (L. vinum) + aigre sour. See Wine, and Eager, a.

A sour liquid used as a condiment, or as a preservative, and obtained by the spontaneous (acetous) fermentation, or by the artificial oxidation, of wine, cider, beer, or the like. ✍ The characteristic sourness of vinegar is due to acetic acid, of which it contains from three to five per cent. Wine vinegar contains also tartaric acid, citric acid, etc.
Hence, anything sour; -- used also metaphorically.
Here's the challenge: . . . I warrant there's vinegar and pepper in't. Shak.

To convert into vinegar; to make like vinegar; to render sour or sharp. Obs.
Hoping that he hath vinegared his senses As he was bid. B. Jonson.