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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.
Scientists have discovered five states of matter so far: solid, liquid, gas, plasma, and Bose-Einstein condensates. The most common are solids, liquids, and gases. What's the difference between these different states of matter? It's all about the physical state of their atoms and molecules. For example, a water molecule (H2O) consists of two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom. Whether its physical state is a solid (ice), a liquid (water), or a gas (vapor), it's still water made up of H2O molecules. Solids have a particular size and shape. The atoms and molecules in a solid are packed together tightly and do not move much. Common examples of solids are an orange, a rock, or a coin.