sour

sour¹ [sauə US saur] adj

[: Old English; Origin: sur]

1.) having a sharp acid taste, like the taste of a ↑lemon or a fruit that is not ready to be eaten

≠ ↑sweet

→↑bitter

▪ Rachel sampled the wine. It was sour.

▪ sour cherries

→↑sweet-and-sour

2.) milk or other food that is sour is not fresh and has a bad taste

turn/go sour

(=become sour)

3.) unfriendly or looking bad-tempered

sour look/face/smile etc

▪ Eliza was tall and thin, with a rather sour face.

▪ a sour-faced old man

4.) informal if a relationship or plan turns or goes sour, it becomes less enjoyable, pleasant, or satisfactory

▪ As time went by, their marriage turned sour .

▪ The meeting ended on a sour note with neither side able to reach agreement.

5.) sour grapes

used to say that someone is pretending that they dislike something because they want it but cannot have it - used to show disapproval

>sourly adv

>sourness n [U]

sour ²

sour² v [I and T]

1.) if a relationship or someone's attitude sours, or if something sours it, it becomes unfriendly or unfavourable

▪ An unhappy childhood has soured her view of life.

2.) if milk sours, or if something sours it, it begins to have an unpleasant sharp taste