Marinate - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To marinate means to soak food, especially meat or vegetables, in a seasoned liquid mixture to enhance its flavor and tenderness before cooking. This process allows the ingredients to absorb the flavors deeply.
Definition:
To soak food in a seasoned liquid to enhance flavor before cooking.
Synonyms:
soak, steep, infuse, pickle
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
dry, dehydrate
Common Collocations:
marinate meat, marinate chicken, marinate overnight, marinate in sauce
Derivatives:
marinade, marinated, marinating
Usage Tips:
Always marinate meat for at least an hour to ensure it absorbs the flavors fully.
Common Phrases:
let it marinate, marinate in the fridge, time to marinate
Etymology:
From Latin 'marinare' (to pickle in brine), via Italian 'marinare' and French 'mariner'.
Examples:
- 1. She will marinate the chicken in lemon and herbs.
- 2. Let the fish marinate for 30 minutes before grilling.
- 3. He loves to marinate vegetables in olive oil and vinegar.
- 4. Marinate the tofu overnight for maximum flavor absorption.