sour

/ˈsaʊ.ə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: sourer · sourest · sours · souring

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Tasting of acidity.

Adjective

Examples

Lemons have a sour taste.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Made rancid by fermentation, etc.

Adjective

Examples

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

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

The sensation of a sour taste.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

A drink made with whiskey, lemon or lime juice and sugar.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “sour” mean?

Tasting of acidity.

Is “sour” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.