despumate

British

/ dɪˈspjuːmeɪt, ˈdɛspjʊˌmeɪt /

verb

(tr) to clarify or purify (a liquid) by skimming a scum from its surface
(intr) (of a liquid) to form a scum or froth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

despumation noun

Etymology

Origin of despumate

C17: from Latin dēspūmāre to skim off, from _de- + spūma foam, froth

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Despumate, de-spū′māt, or des′pū-māt, v.i. to throw off in foam or scum.—n.

From Project Gutenberg

I weet it is depectible—but do not rave, Nor despumate on me with look askance.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023