Marinate Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/məˈreɪnɪt/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Verb

Definition

To soak food, especially meat or vegetables, in a mixture of liquid seasonings, vinegar, and oil, typically for several hours or overnight, to add flavor.

Examples

• She marinated the chicken in Italian dressing before grilling it.
• The chef marinated the vegetables in balsamic vinegar for added flavor.

Synonyms

• Soak
• Steep
• Macerate

Antonyms

• Toast
• Burn

Etymology

The word “marinate” comes from the French “mariner,” meaning “to soak,” which is derived from the Latin “maresre,” meaning “to immerse.” The culinary use of the term dates back to the 17th century.

Usage Notes

Marinate can be used as a transitive or intransitive verb, depending on the context. For example, “She marinated the chicken” is a transitive verb, while “The meat marinated for hours” is an intransitive verb.

Cultural References

In the 2013 film “Skyfall,” Bond’s martini is famously “shaken, not stirred,” emphasizing the importance of not marinating the drink.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

“Marinade in your own sorrow” is a common idiomatic expression, meaning to wallow in one’s own misery.

Related Words or Phrases

Sous vide, brine, inject

Collocations

Marinate with garlic, marinate in olive oil, marinate with soy sauce

Frequency of Use

Marinate is a moderately popular term in modern cuisine, often used in cookbooks and food blogs.

Common Misspellings

Marinate, marinade, mariner