cordial

Everyday

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) A sweet concentrated fruit drink that you mix with water: lime cordial, elderflower cordial. tree →
2. (US, Canada) A sweet alcoholic drink (liqueur) for adults. tree →
3. (adjective, formal) Warm and friendly in a polite way: a cordial welcome. tree →
4. Long ago, a cordial was also a medicine or drink that was thought to strengthen and cheer the heart. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday British, Irish, Australian and New Zealand homes, children drink cordial (also called squash) with water. In maths problems cordial is mixed in ratios, like 1 part cordial to 5 parts water. In formal letters "cordial" means friendly. Phrases: blackcurrant cordial, a cordial welcome, cordial relations.

Examples

• Mix one part cordial with five parts water. tree →
• (Australia) Can I have some raspberry cordial? tree →
• Elderflower cordial is lovely on a hot day. tree →
• (formal) The visitors received a cordial welcome. tree →
• The two countries have cordial relations. tree →
• 50 ml of cordial with 250 ml of water makes 300 ml of drink. tree →
• “In love he is,” Cona’n grumbled. “A cordial for women, a disease for men, a state of wretchedness.” tree →

Note

Meaning changes by country: in the US a cordial is usually an alcoholic drink, in the UK and Australia a children's fruit drink. Adverb: cordially (as in "You are cordially invited"). In maths, a ratio of 1:5 means 1 part cordial out of 6 parts in all.