Definition

A strong alcoholic drink made by distilling wine or fermented fruit juice.

Example

After dinner, they enjoyed a glass of brandy by the fireplace.

Conversation

Have you ever tried brandy before?

Yeah, I had it once at a friend's dinner party.

What did you think of the brandy?

It was surprisingly smooth, I really enjoyed it!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A type of strong alcoholic drink made from distilled wine or fermented fruit juice, often enjoyed as a digestif or used in cocktails.

Example

After dinner, we enjoyed a glass of brandy by the fireplace.

Conversation

Have you ever tried to brandy your fruit for a special dessert?

No, I haven't! How does that work?

You just soak the fruit in brandy to add a nice flavor.

Root Explanation

Brandy originates from the Dutch word 'brandewijn', which means 'burnt wine'. It is formed from 'branden' (meaning to burn) and 'wijn' (meaning wine). The term refers to wine that has been distilled, thus 'burnt' in the sense of being heated during the distillation process.

Memory Tip

Think of 'burning' ('branden') wine ('wijn') to remember that brandy is a distilled form of wine.

Visually Confused Words