Liquid
A liquid is a nearly incompressible fluid that conforms to the shape of its container
but retains a (nearly) constant volume independent of pressure. As such, it is one of
the four fundamental states of matter (the others being solid, gas, and plasma), and is
the only state with a definite volume but no fixed shape. A liquid is made up of tiny
vibrating particles of matter, such as atoms, held together by intermolecular bonds.
Water is, by far, the most common liquid on Earth. Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow
and take the shape of a container. Most liquids resist compression, although others can
be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a
container, and maintains a fairly constant density. A distinctive property of the liquid
state is surface tension, leading to wetting phenomena.
