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Glite Dictionary
🥃 Very strong alcohol 🥃 Strong spirit 🍞 To rise too long
overproof

overproof

7.0
Containing more alcohol than usual for spirits
  • adjective
  • /ˈoʊvərˌpruːf/
  • Specialized
translation icon : de alta graduación
  • This rum is overproof and should be consumed with caution.

Examples

  • The bartender warned that the overproof rum was very strong.

  • Some cocktails require overproof spirits to achieve their signature flavor.

  • He accidentally bought an overproof bottle, which was much stronger than he expected.

  • I prefer overproof spirits for cocktails.

  • The bartender recommended an overproof rum for the cocktail, assuring us it would add a real kick.

  • She discovered that the overproof spirit was far too strong for her taste.

  • For a unique twist, mix an overproof whiskey into your favorite drinks.

How Strong

overproof
  • Specialized
7.0
strong
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

overproof positive

Morphology

overproof = proof (semi-transparent) = over + proof

The prefix 'over-' clearly means excessive, but 'proof' in the sense of alcohol strength is a specialized measurement that not all learners know.

Etymology

Overproof comes from over ('too much') and proof ('tested strength'). Long ago, spirits were 'proved' by a simple test, sometimes with gunpowder, to show how strong they were, so overproof means stronger than the usual 'proof' level.