Liquid vs. Solid: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Liquid is a state of matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape, flowing freely, while solid has a definite shape and volume, maintaining form under pressure.
Key Differences
Liquids flow and take the shape of their container, having a definite volume but no fixed shape. Solids have a definite shape and volume, maintaining form under normal conditions.
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In liquids, molecules are loosely arranged and can move freely. In solids, molecules are tightly packed and have limited movement.
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Liquids are not easily compressible and change shape under pressure. Solids resist shape changes and are typically not compressible under normal conditions.
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A liquid's volume remains constant but adapts its shape to the container. A solid’s volume and shape remain constant, independent of the container.
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Common liquids include water and oil, adaptable in shape. Typical solids are rocks and ice, rigid in structure.
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Comparison Chart
Physical State
No fixed shape, takes the shape of the container
Definite shape and volume
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Molecular Structure
Molecules move freely
Molecules tightly packed and structured
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Liquid and Solid Definitions
Liquid
A state of matter that flows and has a fixed volume but no fixed shape.
Water is a liquid at room temperature.
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Solid
Composed of molecules closely packed in a regular arrangement.
The crystal structure of a solid salt is visible under a microscope.
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Liquid
A substance in which molecules move freely around each other.
The liquid in the thermometer rose as the temperature increased.
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Solid
Has a definite melting point at which it becomes a liquid.
The solid wax melted into a liquid at a specific temperature.
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Liquid
Exhibits surface tension and can form droplets.
Raindrops are liquid water with surface tension.
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Solid
Of definite shape and volume; not liquid or gaseous
It was so cold the water in the bucket became solid.
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Liquid
The state of matter in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow and little or no tendency to disperse, and is amorphous but has a fixed volume and is difficult to compress.
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Solid
(Mathematics) Of or relating to three-dimensional geometric figures or bodies.
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Solid
Firm or compact in substance
The floor was solid and would not give way.
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Liquid
(Linguistics) A consonant articulated without friction and capable of being prolonged like a vowel, such as English l and r.
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Solid
Having no gaps or breaks; continuous
A solid line of people.
Worked for a solid week.
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Solid
Written without a hyphen or space. For example, the word software is a solid compound.
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Liquid
Having a flowing quality without harshness or abrupt breaks
Liquid prose.
The liquid movements of a ballet dancer.
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Liquid
(Linguistics) Articulated without friction and capable of being prolonged like a vowel.
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Liquid
A substance that is flowing, and keeping no shape, such as water; a substance of which the molecules, while not tending to separate from one another like those of a gas, readily change their relative position, and which therefore retains no definite shape, except that determined by the containing receptacle; an inelastic fluid.
A liquid can freeze to become a solid or evaporate into a gas.
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Liquid
(phonetics) Any of a class of consonant sounds that includes l and r.
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Liquid
Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid and not gaseous; composed of particles that move freely among each other on the slightest pressure.
Liquid nitrogen
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Solid
A substance having a definite shape and volume; one that is neither liquid nor gaseous.
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Liquid
Flowing or sounding smoothly or without abrupt transitions or harsh tones.
A liquid melody
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Solid
Without a break or opening; completely or continuously
The theater was booked solid for a month.
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Liquid
(phonology) Belonging to a class of consonants comprised of the laterals and the rhotics, which in many languages behave similarly.
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Solid
(of an object or substance) That can be picked up or held, having a texture, and usually firm. Unlike a liquid, gas or plasma.
Almost all metals are solid at room temperature.
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Liquid
Flowing freely like water; fluid; not solid.
Yea, though he go upon the plane and liquid water which will receive no step.
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Liquid
Being in such a state that the component molecules move freely among themselves, but have a definite volume changing only slightly with changes of pressure, and do not tend to separate from each other as the particles of gases and vapors do when the volume of the container is increased; neither solid nor gaseous; as, liquid mercury, in distinction from mercury solidified or in a state of vapor.
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Solid
Lacking holes, hollows or admixtures of other materials.
Solid gold
Solid chocolate
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Liquid
Flowing or sounding smoothly or without abrupt transitions or harsh tones.
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Liquid
Pronounced without any jar or harshness; smooth; as, l and r are liquid letters.
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Solid
(slang) Excellent, of high quality, or reliable.
That's a solid plan.
Radiohead's on tour! Have you heard their latest album yet? It's quite solid.
I don't think Dave would have done that. He's a solid dude.
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Solid
Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial; not frivolous or fallacious.
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Liquid
In cash or readily convertible into cash without loss of principle; - said of assets, such as bank accounts, or short-term bonds tradable on a major stock exchange.
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Liquid
A substance whose parts change their relative position on the slightest pressure, and therefore retain no definite form; any substance in the state of liquidity; a fluid that is not gaseous and has a definite volume independent, of the container in which it is held. Liquids have a fixed volume at any given pressure, but their shape is determined by the container in which it is contained. Liquids, in contrast to gases, cannot expand indefinitely to fill an expanding container, and are only slightly compressible by application of pressure.
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Liquid
A letter which has a smooth, flowing sound, or which flows smoothly after a mute; as, l and r, in bla, bra. M and n also are called liquids.
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Solid
(typography) Written as one word, without spaces or hyphens.
American English writes many words as solid that British English hyphenates.
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Liquid
The state in which a substance exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow with little or no tendency to disperse and relatively high incompressibility
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Solid
United; without division; unanimous.
The delegation is solid for a candidate.
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Liquid
A substance in the fluid state of matter having no fixed shape but a fixed volume
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Solid
Of a single color throughout.
John painted the walls solid white.
He wore a solid shirt with floral pants.
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Solid
(of drawn lines) Continuous; unbroken; not dotted or dashed.
The solid lines show roads, and the dotted lines footpaths.
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Liquid
Existing as or having characteristics of a liquid; especially tending to flow;
Water and milk and blood are liquid substances
Ice is water in the solid state
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Solid
(dated) Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic.
A solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
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Liquid
Filled or brimming with tears;
Swimming eyes
Watery eyes
Sorrow made the eyes of many grow liquid
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Solid
(of volumes of materials) Measured as a single solid, as the volumes of individual pieces added together without any gaps.
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Liquid
Clear and bright;
The liquid air of a spring morning
Eyes shining with a liquid luster
Limpid blue eyes
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Solid
(chemistry) A substance in the fundamental state of matter that retains its size and shape without need of a container (as opposed to a liquid or gas).
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Liquid
Changed from a solid to a liquid state;
Rivers filled to overflowing by melted snow
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Solid
(geometry) A three-dimensional figure (as opposed to a surface, an area, or a curve).
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Liquid
Smooth and flowing in quality; entirely free of harshness;
The liquid song of a robin
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Solid
(informal) A favor.
Please do me a solid: lend me your car for one week.
I owe him; he did me a solid last year.
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Liquid
Yielding; lacking any hint of hardness;
The liquid stillness of the night enveloping him
The liquid brown eyes of a spaniel
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Solid
An article of clothing which is of a single color throughout.
I prefer solids over paisleys.
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Liquid
Smooth and unconstrained in movement;
A long, smooth stride
The fluid motion of a cat
The liquid grace of a ballerina
Liquid prose
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Solid
(in the plural) Food which is not liquid-based.
The doctor said I can't eat any solids four hours before the operation.
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Liquid
Takes the shape of the part of the container it occupies.
The liquid soap easily filled the dispenser.
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Solid
Without spaces or hyphens.
Many long-established compounds are set solid.
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Liquid
Resists compression and expands when heated.
Hydraulic systems use the incompressibility of liquids for power.
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Solid
Having the constituent parts so compact, or so firmly adhering, as to resist the impression or penetration of other bodies; having a fixed form; hard; firm; compact; - opposed to fluid and liquid or to plastic, like clay, or to incompact, like sand.
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Solid
Not hollow; full of matter; as, a solid globe or cone, as distinguished from a hollow one; not spongy; dense; hence, sometimes, heavy.
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Solid
Having all the geometrical dimensions; cubic; as, a solid foot contains 1,728 solid inches.
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Solid
Firm; compact; strong; stable; unyielding; as, a solid pier; a solid pile; a solid wall.
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Solid
Applied to a compound word whose parts are closely united and form an unbroken word; - opposed to hyphened.
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Solid
Fig.: Worthy of credit, trust, or esteem; substantial, as opposed to frivolous or fallacious; weighty; firm; strong; valid; just; genuine.
The solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer.
These, wanting wit, affect gravity, and go by the name of solid men.
The genius of the Italians wrought by solid toil what the myth-making imagination of the Germans had projected in a poem.
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Solid
Of a fleshy, uniform, undivided substance, as a bulb or root; not spongy or hollow within, as a stem.
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Solid
Impenetrable; resisting or excluding any other material particle or atom from any given portion of space; - applied to the supposed ultimate particles of matter.
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Solid
United; without division; unanimous; as, the delegation is solid for a candidate.
Repose you there; while I [return] to this hard house,More harder than the stones whereof 't is raised.
I hear his thundering voice resound,And trampling feet than shake the solid ground.
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Solid
A substance that is held in a fixed form by cohesion among its particles; a substance not fluid.
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Solid
A magnitude which has length, breadth, and thickness; a part of space bounded on all sides.
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Solid
The state in which a substance has no tendency to flow under moderate stress; resists forces (such as compression) that tend to deform it; and retains a definite size and shape
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Solid
Of definite shape and volume; firm; neither liquid nor gaseous;
Ice is water in the solid state
Water and milk and blood are liquid substances
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Solid
Entirely of one substance with no holes inside;
Solid silver
A solid block of wood
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Solid
Of one substance or character throughout;
Solid gold
A solid color
Carved out of solid rock
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Solid
Uninterrupted in space; having no gaps or breaks;
A solid line across the page
Solid sheets of water
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Solid
Providing abundant nourishment;
A hearty meal
Good solid food
Ate a substantial breakfast
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Solid
Of good quality and condition; solidly built;
A solid foundation
Several substantial timber buildings
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Solid
Having high moral qualities;
A noble spirit
A solid citizen
An upstanding man
A worthy successor
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Solid
Not soft or yielding to pressure;
A firm mattress
The snow was firm underfoot
Solid ground
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Solid
A state of matter characterized by rigidity and resistance to changes in shape.
Ice is a solid form of water.
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Solid
Maintains a fixed shape and volume under normal conditions.
A diamond, being a solid, retains its shape.
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Solid
Resists forces applied and does not flow like a liquid.
The solid steel beams support the building.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can liquids be compressed?
Liquids are generally not compressible, unlike gases.
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How do liquids change shape?
Liquids change shape based on the container they are in.
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Are all liquids visible?
Most liquids are visible, but some can be transparent.
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What defines a liquid?
A liquid is defined by its ability to flow and take the shape of its container.
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What is a solid?
A solid is a state of matter with a fixed shape and volume.
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What happens when a solid melts?
When a solid melts, it transitions into a liquid state.
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Can a liquid freeze into a solid?
Yes, a liquid can freeze into a solid at its freezing point.
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What is the molecular structure of a liquid?
In a liquid, molecules are loosely arranged and can move freely.
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Do solids expand with heat?
Solids can expand when heated, but not as much as liquids.
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Why do liquids form droplets?
Liquids form droplets due to surface tension.
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How does pressure affect liquids?
Liquids change shape under pressure but generally retain their volume.
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How does pressure affect solids?
Solids resist shape changes under normal pressures.
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Is glass a liquid or a solid?
Glass is an amorphous solid with properties of both solid and liquid states.
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What is the molecular structure of a solid?
In a solid, molecules are tightly packed in a regular pattern.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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