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Synonyms

decanter

American  
[dih-kan-ter] / dɪˈkæn tər /

noun

  1. a vessel, usually an ornamental glass bottle, for holding and serving wine, brandy, or the like.

  2. a bottle used for decanting.


decanter British  
/ dɪˈkæntə /

noun

  1. a stoppered bottle, usually of glass, into which a drink, such as wine, is poured for serving

"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

Etymology

Origin of decanter

First recorded in 1705–15; decant + -er 1

Explanation

Want an extra fancy way to serve a beverage? Put it in a decanter, an elegant glass container with a stopper. A decanter is similar to a carafe, a wide-mouthed vessel for serving liquids, except it has a narrower neck and a stopper. Particularly ornate decanters are made of cut crystal and are meant to hold wine, which some people believe should "breathe" before being poured and sipped. Decanter comes from the verb decant, "to pour," and its Medieval Latin source, decanthare, "pour from the edge of a vessel."

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Vocabulary lists containing decanter

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.

After producing a ceiling lamp with a bulbous glass filament that rises from the center to evoke a water drop splashing in a pool, Beacon Custom Lighting followed with its Pond decanter.

From Seattle Times • May 28, 2024

This limited-edition version of the decanter was created for the 2023 millstART exhibition in Austria.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

In the kitchen behind Meghan we can see elegant bowls and a glass decanter.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2024

“Someone dropped these off this morning,” Douglas Heller, an owner of the gallery with his brother Michael, said, holding up a white decanter and blue pitcher.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2022

There was the faint glug of wine being poured, a tinkle of decanter on glass rim, a murmur of thanks, and then Sir Charles seated himself on the sofa, inches away from Will.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

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