macerate

[ mas-uh-reyt ]

verb (used with object)

, mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

1. to soften or separate into parts by steeping in a liquid.
2. to soften or decompose (food) by the action of a solvent.
3. to cause to grow thin.

verb (used without object)

, mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

1. to undergo maceration.
2. to become thin or emaciated; waste away.

   Synonyms: wither, fade, shrivel, shrink

macerate

/ ˈmæsəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to soften or separate or be softened or separated as a result of soaking
2. to break up or cause to break up by soaking

   macerated peaches

3. to become or cause to become thin

Derived Forms

• ˌmacerˈation, noun
• ˈmacerˌater, noun
• ˈmacerative, adjective

Other Words From

• macer·ater macer·ator noun
• macer·ative adjective
• un·macer·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of macerate¹

1540–50; < Latin mācerātus (past participle of mācerāre to make soft, weaken, steep); -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of macerate¹

C16: from Latin mācerāre to soften

Example Sentences

The process of making the actual cake part of fruitcake is fairly novice-level baking — macerate some dried fruit and nuts in alcohol, fold them together with flour, sugar, and eggs, pack the batter into a tin, and bake.

From Eater

Transfer the macerated mixture to a heavy-bottomed 6-quart pot or preserving pan set over medium-high heat.

From Washington Post

As its name implies, it’s made by macerating chopped vanilla bean pods in alcohol, which extracts the flavors and fragrances from the bean.

From Eater

Even my windowsill herbs feel destined to be tossed into a jar of macerated fruit.

From Eater

Animal welfare activists have been lobbying against male chick culling for decades, chronicling cute and fuzzy day-old chicks who are gassed or macerated.

From Vox

Press out all the whey from the curd and macerate the latter for several hours (10 to 12 hours) in 50 cc.

From Project Gutenberg

For those who macerate the body, and long to put on immortality, are only in a kind of dream.

From Project Gutenberg

Macerate the drugs with alcohol and water, and after a few days transfer to percolator.

From Project Gutenberg

Macerate in a close vessel for a fortnight, then filter and bottle for sale.

From Project Gutenberg

Allow the whole to macerate in the spirit during 24 hours, then distil off 40 gallons by the heat of a water bath.

From Project Gutenberg