Note: The translation for this entry is currently under quality review. Some content is temporarily displayed in English only.
wine
/waɪn/
The word carries a strong association with sophistication, ritual, and leisure. Unlike "beer" or "spirits," wine is often linked to dining, culture, and a slower pace of consumption. In a social context, it suggests a level of refinement or luxury. While it can be consumed casually, the language surrounding it (e.g., "vintage," "notes," "bouquet") often leans toward an appreciative or connoisseur-like perspective. As a verb, it is almost exclusively used in the phrase "wine and dine," which shifts the focus from the drink itself to the act of lavish hospitality and impression-making.
Uncountable when referring to the liquid in general ('I'll have some wine'). Countable when discussing specific types, brands, or vintages ('France produces many fine wines').
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
red wine
Wine made from dark-colored grape varieties.
He poured a glass of red wine.
white wine
Wine made from pale or green-colored grape varieties.
She prefers white wine with fish.
house wine
The wine served by a restaurant that is not a specific brand.
The house wine was surprisingly good.
dessert wine
A sweet wine typically served with dessert.
Would you like a dessert wine?
sparkling wine
Wine that contains a significant amount of carbon dioxide, making it effervescent.
We celebrated with sparkling wine.
Phrasal Verbs
wine down
To relax, especially at the end of the day.
Let's just wine down with a movie.
Idioms & Sayings
in vino veritas
In wine there is truth; people are more likely to speak their true thoughts when drunk.
He confessed everything after a few glasses; in vino veritas.
wine and dine
To entertain someone lavishly with food and drink.
He planned to wine and dine her all weekend.
a fine wine
Something that improves or becomes more valuable with age.
She's like a fine wine, getting better with age.
Etymology
The word 'wine' traces its origins back to Proto-Indo-European, the reconstructed ancestor of many European and Indian languages. The reconstructed word is believed to be something like 'woinos'. This word likely passed into Proto-Italic, the ancestor of Latin, as 'woinos'. From Latin, it evolved into 'vīnum'. The influence of Greek 'οἶνος' (oinos) is also evident, and both Greek and Latin terms may have shared a common, even older, Semitic source, possibly related to the Phoenician word 'wayin' or 'wain'. The Latin 'vīnum' was borrowed into Vulgar Latin and then into the various Romance languages. In Old French, it became 'vin', which was then adopted into Old English around the 7th century as 'wīn'. Over time, the pronunciation shifted, leading to the modern English spelling and pronunciation of 'wine'. The journey of the word mirrors the spread of viticulture and winemaking across Europe and beyond, carried by trade, conquest, and cultural exchange.