[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/cordial/)

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# cordial

noun (cordial, cordials); adjective (cordial)

«cordial» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland) A sweet concentrated fruit drink that you mix with water: lime cordial, elderflower cordial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#m1)
2. (US, Canada) A sweet alcoholic drink (liqueur) for adults. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#m2)
3. (adjective, formal) Warm and friendly in a polite way: a cordial welcome. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#m3)
4. Long ago, a cordial was also a medicine or drink that was thought to strengthen and cheer the heart. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x1)
- (Australia) Can I have some raspberry cordial? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x2)
- Elderflower cordial is lovely on a hot day. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x3)
- (formal) The visitors received a cordial welcome. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x4)
- The two countries have cordial relations. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x5)
- 50 ml of cordial with 250 ml of water makes 300 ml of drink. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x6)
- “In love he is,” Cona’n grumbled. “A cordial for women, a disease for men, a state of wretchedness.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/#x7)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «cordial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/cordial/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«cordial» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/cordial.html) on Mova free.