marinate
B2Neutral to Informal. Common in culinary contexts, everyday speech, and metaphorical use.
Definition
Meaning
To soak food, especially meat, fish, or vegetables, in a seasoned liquid mixture before cooking to flavor and tenderize it.
To allow something (e.g., an idea, a situation, or emotions) to be immersed in or influenced by a particular environment or condition for a period of time, often with a gradual, transformative effect.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a preparatory, time-dependent process. The metaphorical extension is based on the core concept of 'soaking' in an influencing medium. Often implies an improvement or development of flavor/quality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Both use 'marinate' for the verb. The noun 'marinade' is used for the liquid mixture in both varieties. British English may be slightly more likely to also use 'marinade' as a verb, but 'marinate' is standard and dominant.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties. Metaphorical use is widespread in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] marinates [object] (for [time])[object] marinates (in [liquid]) (for [time])[subject] marinates [object] in [liquid]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Let that idea marinate for a while.”
- “He needed time to marinate on the feedback.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'Let's marinate on that proposal before deciding.'
Academic
Very rare, except in specific food science or cultural studies contexts.
Everyday
Common, both literal (cooking) and metaphorical (thinking).
Technical
Standard in culinary arts and food preparation contexts.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You should marinate the halloumi for at least thirty minutes.
- The beef is marinating in the larder.
American English
- Marinate the steak in the refrigerator overnight.
- Let the tofu marinate in that mixture while you preheat the grill.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I marinate chicken with lemon.
- Marinate the fish before you cook it.
- For best results, marinate the meat for several hours.
- She taught me how to marinate vegetables for a barbecue.
- The recipe suggests you marinate the lamb in yogurt and spices overnight to enhance its tenderness.
- After the meeting, I needed a few days to marinate on the complex feedback I received.
- The chef's signature dish relies on a precisely balanced marinade in which the duck is left to marinate for a full 48 hours.
- Political commentators noted that the scandal had been marinating in the background for months before finally erupting into public view.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MARINE (soldier) ATE the chicken only after it had been in the 'marinade' for hours. MARINE-ATE = MARINATE.
Conceptual Metaphor
THINKING/DEVELOPING IS MARINATING (e.g., 'Let me marinate on that thought.'). TIME IS A LIQUID/MEDIUM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'мариновать' which is a direct translation but can have a stronger connotation of pickling/preserving in vinegar. 'Marinate' is typically for flavor/tenderness before cooking, not long-term preservation.
- Avoid using 'soak' ('замочить') as the sole synonym, as it lacks the specific culinary nuance.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will marinate the meat into the sauce.' Correct: 'I will marinate the meat in the sauce.'
- Incorrect (spelling): 'maranate', 'merinate'.
- Using 'marinade' as the verb in formal writing (though common in speech).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'marinate' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Marinate' is the verb (the action). 'Marinade' is the noun (the liquid mixture used for marinating).
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically to mean 'to soak' or 'to steep' in an idea, atmosphere, or emotion over time (e.g., 'He let the criticism marinate before responding').
It is neutral. It is standard in recipes and everyday conversation. Its metaphorical use is considered informal.
It varies greatly, from 30 minutes for delicate fish to 24-48 hours for large, tough cuts of meat. Most recipes call for 2 to 12 hours.