marinade
marinade Lexical Profile
marinade Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A liquid mixture, typically containing oil, acid, and spices, in which meat, fish, or vegetables are soaked before cooking to add flavor or tenderize the food.
"The chef left the chicken in a spicy yogurt marinade overnight to ensure it was tender and flavorful."
• verb
British To soak food in a flavored, acidic liquid before cooking.
"He marinaded the beef steaks in red wine and herbs for several hours before lighting the grill."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'marinade' is occasionally used as a verb (especially in British English), standard usage prescribes 'marinade' as the noun (the liquid mixture) and 'marinate' as the verb (the action of soaking).
Word Origin & Etymology
From French 'marinade', derived from Spanish 'marinada', from the verb 'marinar' (to pickle in brine), ultimately from Latin 'marinus' (of the sea). This refers to the historical practice of using seawater or brine to preserve and flavor food.