Tequila Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

tequila American [tuh-kee-luh] / təˈki lə /

noun

1. a strong liquor from Mexico, distilled from fermented mash of an agave.

2. the plant itself, Agave tequilana.

tequila British / tɪˈkiːlə /

noun

1. a spirit that is distilled in Mexico from an agave plant and forms the basis of many mixed drinks

2. the plant, Agave tequilana, from which this drink is made

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of tequila

First recorded in 1840–50; after Tequila, a town in Jalisco, Mexico, a center for its production

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mexico may be best known for tequila and mezcal, but vintners have long been quietly producing top-notch wines, too.

From The Wall Street Journal

Guadalajara seeks to stand out for its cuisine, tequila, mariachis and cultural traditions.

From Los Angeles Times

OK, Tartan Army, can you hear Lady Liberty calling you from New York Harbour, can you feel the rush of the Niagara Falls, can you almost taste the tequila in Guadalajara?

From BBC

“I’ve been to other rooms where I’m competing with tequila or the Rams. Here, when anyone goes up in front of that microphone, everyone stops.”

From Los Angeles Times

And then there’s the bottle: I wanted it to look a little tougher, a little more like a tequila bottle.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.