lemon juice
Definition
Noun: 1. The liquid extract from lemons: This refers to the acidic, tart-tasting liquid that is obtained by squeezing or pressing lemons (Citrus limon). It is typically used fresh for its flavor and chemical properties in cooking, baking, and beverages.
Usage
- As a common, uncountable noun: "Lemon juice" is generally used as an uncountable substance. You refer to an amount of it (e.g., some lemon juice, a cup of lemon juice, a squeeze of lemon juice).
- Contexts of use: It is most commonly used in culinary contexts (recipes, drinks), for cleaning purposes, or in home remedies.
Examples
- In cooking and recipes:
- Add the juice of one lemon, or about two tablespoons of lemon juice, to the salad dressing.
- The recipe calls for a quarter cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- In beverages:
- I like to start my day with warm water and lemon juice.
- Would you like some lemon juice in your tea?
- Describing a characteristic:
- The sauce has a sharp, lemon juice acidity.
Advanced Usage
- Figurative use for sourness or bitterness: While less common, "lemon juice" can be used metaphorically to describe something sharply critical or unpleasant.
- Her critique was pure lemon juice—it stung but was honest.
Variants and Related Words
- Lemon (noun): The yellow citrus fruit itself.
- Juice (noun): The liquid extracted from a fruit or vegetable.
- Citric acid (noun): The primary acid found in lemon juice, often sold as a powdered substitute.
- Lemonade (noun): A sweetened beverage made from lemon juice, water, and sugar.
Synonyms
- Lemon extract (though this often implies a more concentrated or processed form).
- Citrus juice (a broader category that includes lemon juice).
Related Phrases
- A squeeze of lemon: A common phrase meaning a small amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice.
- Finish the dish with a squeeze of lemon.
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice: Emphasizes that the juice is not from a bottle or concentrate.
- The difference in flavor between bottled and freshly squeezed lemon juice is remarkable.
Noun
-
usually freshly squeezed juice of lemons
