quart
B1Neutral, with technical uses in cooking, engineering, and science.
Definition
Meaning
A unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a gallon, or two pints.
1. A container with a capacity of one quart. 2. A measure for dry goods, as in 'a quart of berries'. 3. In geology, a unit for measuring the volume of crystals or gems.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily denotes a unit of volume, not a specific liquid. It is countable ('two quarts of milk'). In the US, it's a common unit in recipes and for liquids like oil, milk, or paint.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The British (imperial) quart is 1.136 litres, while the US quart is 0.946 litres (a US liquid quart). The US also has a slightly different US dry quart. The imperial pint is 20 fl oz, making an imperial quart 40 fl oz; the US pint is 16 fl oz, making a US quart 32 fl oz.
Connotations
In the UK, the quart is less common in everyday speech since metrication, often associated with older recipes or beer (e.g., a quart of ale). In the US, it remains a standard unit in cooking and commerce.
Frequency
More frequent in American English due to the continued use of customary units. In British English, 'litre' or 'pint' is more common, though 'quart' is understood.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Number] quart(s) of [liquid/substance]a [adjective] quartVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"A quart into a pint pot" (UK) – trying to put too much into a small space.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in wholesale pricing of liquids (e.g., 'sold by the quart').
Academic
Appears in historical texts, chemistry (volumetric measurements), and engineering (fluid capacities).
Everyday
Common in US grocery shopping and recipes (e.g., 'Add a quart of broth').
Technical
Specifying engine oil capacity (US) or in brewing (UK historical).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
adjective
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The recipe needs one quart of water.
- I bought a quart of milk.
- In the US, motor oil is often sold in quart bottles.
- The soup recipe called for two quarts of chicken stock.
- The imperial quart, still used in some contexts, is larger than its US counterpart.
- He managed to fit a quart of tools into his small backpack.
- The engine's oil capacity is precisely 5.7 US quarts, not litres.
- The old British saying 'a quart into a pint pot' perfectly described the overstuffed suitcase.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: QUART sounds like 'quarter' – it's a QUARTER of a gallon.
Conceptual Metaphor
A standardised container for amounts; often used metaphorically for capability (e.g., 'He doesn't have a quart of sense').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'квартал' (quarter of a year/city).
- The Russian 'кварта' is archaic and not a direct equivalent for modern use.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quart' as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'Add some quart' – incorrect).
- Confusing US and UK volumes in recipes or technical specs.
- Misspelling as 'quarte'.
Practice
Quiz
How many US pints are in a US quart?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A British (imperial) quart is about 1.14 litres, while a US liquid quart is about 0.95 litres.
Primarily in the US when following recipes, buying liquids like milk or oil, or in DIY (e.g., buying paint).
No, it is part of the imperial (UK) and US customary systems. One US quart is approximately 0.95 metric litres.
It's a British idiom meaning to try to put too much of something into a space that is too small for it.