Definition

1. Noun:
   • An alcoholic beverage made from fermented apple juice: "Hard cider" is a drink produced by fermenting the juice of apples, resulting in an alcoholic content. This term is used primarily in North America to distinguish it from non-alcoholic apple cider.

Usage

• As a noun: Use "hard cider" to refer specifically to the alcoholic version of cider. In many contexts, simply "cider" may imply the alcoholic beverage, but "hard cider" is used for clarity, especially in regions where non-alcoholic cider is common.
  • We enjoyed a glass of local hard cider with our meal.
  • The brewery also produces a very dry hard cider.

Examples

• Noun:
  • He prefers hard cider to beer.
  • This pub has five different hard ciders on tap.
  • Making hard cider at home requires careful fermentation.

Advanced Usage

• "craft hard cider": Refers to hard cider produced by small, independent producers, often with artisanal methods or unique flavor profiles.
  • The festival featured dozens of craft hard ciders from across the state.

Variants and Related Words

• Cider (noun): In many English-speaking countries outside North America, especially in Europe, "cider" typically means the fermented, alcoholic beverage. The spelling "cyder" is an archaic or regional variant.
  • In the UK, ordering a pint of cider will get you an alcoholic drink.
• Soft cider (noun): The non-alcoholic, unfiltered apple juice, often simply called "cider" in North America. This is the direct counterpart to "hard cider."
  • The children drank mugs of hot soft cider.

Synonyms

• Alcoholic cider: A more formal synonym that explicitly denotes the alcoholic content.
• Apple wine: Sometimes used, though this can imply a different production method or higher alcohol content than typical hard cider.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "hard cider" is chiefly an American English usage. In British, Irish, and other Commonwealth English, the word "cider" alone almost always refers to the fermented, alcoholic drink. The modifier "hard" is used in North America to differentiate it from the sweet, non-alcoholic beverage commonly called "cider."

Noun

1. alcoholic drink from fermented cider; `cider' and `cyder' are European (especially British) usages for the fermented beverage