noun
martini
mah-TEE-nee
noun
1
A cocktail traditionally made by stirring or shaking gin (or vodka) with vermouth, usually served in a stemmed glass with an olive or twist.
"He ordered a dry martini, shaken not stirred."
"She garnished the martini with a twist of lemon."
2
Loosely, any cocktail served in the same distinctive cone-shaped glass.
"The bar menu listed an espresso martini among its specials."
How to Use Martini
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic gin-or-vodka cocktail served in a distinctive triangular glass.
Common pairings
dry martini
dirty martini
espresso martini
shaken, not stirred
Word Forms
martinis plural, Martinis plural
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He ordered a dry _____, shaken not stirred.
Etymology
The exact origin is disputed, but it likely comes from the Martini & Rossi vermouth brand or an earlier cocktail called the Martinez.