Macerate: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is often used in a scientific or culinary context to describe the process of softening or breaking down a material by soaking it in a liquid. It conveys a more formal or technical tone.

• The botanist had to macerate the plant tissues to study their cellular structure.
• To make a fruit salad, macerate the berries in a bit of sugar.

Commonly used in cooking, especially when talking about soaking meat, fish, or vegetables in a seasoned liquid to enhance flavor before cooking.

• Marinate the chicken in the lemon-garlic sauce for at least two hours.
• She loves to marinate tofu in soy sauce and spices before grilling it.

Typically associated with the process of soaking solid items, like tea leaves or herbs, in water (usually hot) to extract flavor or nutrients. It is often used in the context of making beverages or herbal remedies.

• Steep the tea bag in boiling water for five minutes.
• Let the herbs steep in the hot water to release their medicinal properties.

A general term that can be applied to a wide range of situations involving submerging something in liquid to make it wet, soften it, or clean it. It is commonly used in everyday language.

• Soak the beans overnight before cooking.
• After a long day, all I want to do is soak in a hot bath.

Use this term when you want to describe a process where something is softened by soaking it in a liquid for an extended period. This is often used in cooking and science, particularly in reference to breaking down cell structures.

• To enhance the flavor, you should macerate the strawberries in sugar overnight

This word is suitable for discussing the biological process of breaking down food in the stomach and intestines. It can also be used metaphorically to explain understanding or absorbing complex information.

• After eating a large meal, it can take several hours for your body to digest the food
• It took me some time to digest all the information in the report

Select this term when you need to describe turning a solid or gas into a liquid, especially through heating or pressure. Common in scientific, technical, and culinary contexts.

• The heat from the stove will liquefy the butter quickly
• Scientists managed to liquefy the gases for the experiment