Macerate (Verb)
Meaning 1
Separate into constituents by soaking.
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The herbal remedy required you to macerate the plant's roots in a mixture of alcohol and water to release its active ingredients.
- You should macerate the rose petals in the sugar syrup for several hours before using it to make the fragrant dessert.
- To release the flavors and colors, beets need to be macerated in vinegar for several hours or even overnight.
- Shredded ginger was macerated in the soy sauce to release its aromatic oils and flavor the stir-fry dish.
- The tea leaves were macerated in boiling water to separate and release the tea's fragrance and nutrients.
Meaning 2
Cause to grow thin or weak; "The treatment emaciated him".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Grief macerated the widow over time, taking a toll on her physical health.
- Months of inadequate nutrition macerated the young refugee's already frail body.
- The exhausting battle with disease macerated his once robust physique.
- Depression macerated her spirit, making everyday tasks feel like insurmountable challenges.
- Poor living conditions macerated the vulnerable community, eroding their collective strength.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 3
Become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; "the tissue macerated in the water".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The leaves macerated in the strong solvent, releasing their pigment and causing them to disintegrate.
- Macerated strawberries are a popular topping for ice cream and yogurt due to their sweet and syrupy texture.
- After being submerged in water for weeks, the wood macerated and began to fall apart at the slightest touch.
- The biodegradable cloth macerated in the soil, leaving no visible sign of its existence behind.
- As I examined the old document, I noticed the paper had macerated in areas exposed to water damage.
Related Words
Meaning 4
Soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result; "macerate peaches"; "the gizzards macerates the food in the digestive system".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- The chef let the dried fruit macerate in the liquor overnight to enhance its flavor.
- The fruit will macerate in the syrup during the preservation process.
- Herbal remedies often require specific ingredients to macerate in water before consumption.
- The doctor explained how certain organs in the body macerate the food we eat to facilitate digestion.
- The dried apricots needed time to macerate in the sweet tea, releasing their flavor and texture.