A drink is any liquid you consume. It could be something as straightforward as water or as complex as alcohol.
The verb drink is a widely-used expression in everyday conversation. It also serves to denote intoxication – an idea conveyed by its opposite sign, “drunk”.
Definition
A drink is any liquid taken into your mouth and swallowed; it can be any kind of liquid, but most commonly alcohol.
One drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1-3/4 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirits (such as whiskey, vodka, gin and tequila). These amounts are standard across the United States but may differ across beverage types.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, moderate drinking is defined as no more than two drinks for men on most days and one drink for women.
Origin
Drinking, imbibing or sipping refers to the act of taking a liquid by mouth and swallowing it; this term is most often associated with alcoholic drinks but can also refer to other kinds of liquids like soups.
The origins of the verb drink remain uncertain. One theory suggests it was first used in Indo-European, where it evolved from a variant of po. Additionally, some believe it may have come from drincan, meaning “to drink water”.
Other potential sources include a root for moistness (in the Baltic languages) and an Indo-European cognate related to dryness. While these theories sound intriguing, it remains uncertain how successful they will prove.
No matter how much effort has been made, the origin of drink remains uncertain. Likewise, the origins of dr-verbs such as drip and drizzle remain ambiguous: no single explanation has been offered.
Forms
Drink, imbibe and sip are verbs used to refer to the act of swallowing liquids. Unlike their Indo-European counterparts in other languages, these words cannot be interchanged.
They remain somewhat of a buzzword to those unfamiliar with English. Indeed, some dictionaries list them among the most commonly used words in English.
The most prevalent verb in this category is drink, followed by imbibe and sip. These verbs refer to motion that involves swallowing liquids.
In addition to those three, there are a few others that merit consideration. These include blink, wink, clink, slink, link and ink; though not all follow the classic drink-drank pattern.
It is remarkable that such a basic verb has survived so long in so many languages, especially when its root ed- appears to have been replaced by po- in some Germanic varieties. At one point, the same word was used both as verb and noun to describe this action.
Usage
Take liquids directly into your mouth and swallow them. On hot days, it’s essential to drink plenty of water.
It is essential to remember that never consume too much alcohol of any substance; doing so could lead to serious health complications.
Conjugating the word drink can be confusing, as there are two distinct ways to conjugate it: drank and drunk. These verbs come in distinct tenses, so knowing how to correctly use them is essential for understanding its proper usage.
Drank is the past tense form of drink, while drunk is its past participle form. Drunk can also be used as an adjective to signify “intoxicated.”
