decant
/dɪˈkɑːnt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To pour a liquid slowly from one container into another. This often leaves any sediment or heavier material behind.
- She decanted the wine into a clean bottle.
- Decant the juice before serving it.
- Let the tea settle, then decant it carefully.
Adinary Nuance
Decant is more specific than pour. It suggests careful pouring, often to separate a clear liquid from sediment or to let a liquid breathe. Writers choose decant in formal, technical, or wine-related contexts, not for everyday pouring.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- rót ra
- Spanish
- decantar
- Chinese
- 倾倒
- Japanese
- 移し替える
- Korean
- 따르다
Etymology
From French decanter, based on Latin cantare, meaning 'to pour off'. The word entered English in the 17th century, especially in wine-making.
Common phrases
decant winedecant into a bottledecant carefully
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is decant a common everyday word?
- Not very. People use it more in formal writing, cooking, and wine contexts.
- What is the difference between decant and pour?
- Pour is general. Decant means pouring carefully, often to leave sediment behind.
- Can I use decant outside wine?
- Yes. You can decant liquids like soup, tea, or chemicals in careful contexts.