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noun

marinade

marih-NAYD

Marinade (noun) means a flavoured liquid, often containing an acid like vinegar or citrus, that food is soaked in before cooking. Example: “She mixed soy sauce, garlic and ginger into a marinade for the chicken.”

noun
1
A flavoured liquid, often containing an acid like vinegar or citrus, that food is soaked in before cooking.
"She mixed soy sauce, garlic and ginger into a marinade for the chicken."
"Leave the steak in the marinade for at least two hours."
verb
1
To soak food in such a liquid; a less common variant of "marinate."
"He marinaded the vegetables overnight."

How to use marinade

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe seasoned liquid you soak meat, fish or vegetables in before cooking, to add flavour and tenderness.

Common mistake

As a verb, "marinate" is far more common than "marinade" — many style guides consider the verb use of "marinade" nonstandard.

Common pairings
a spicy marinade marinade for chicken soak in a marinade

Word forms

marinaded past tense, marinades plural, marinades singular

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Test yourself on “marinade” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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She mixed soy sauce, garlic and ginger into a _____ for the chicken.

Etymology

From French marinade, built on "marine" (of the sea) plus the suffix "-ade," since early versions used seawater or brine.

Origin: French

Related words

Rhymes for marinade

See all rhymes for marinade →

Frequently asked questions

What does “marinade” mean?

The word “marinade” means a flavoured liquid, often containing an acid like vinegar or citrus, that food is soaked in before cooking. In plain terms, the seasoned liquid you soak meat, fish or vegetables in before cooking, to add flavour and tenderness.

How do you pronounce “marinade”?

“Marinade” is pronounced marih-NAYD (/ˌmɛɹɪˈneɪd/ in IPA).

How do you use “marinade” in a sentence?

Here is “marinade” used in a sentence: “She mixed soy sauce, garlic and ginger into a marinade for the chicken.”

What part of speech is “marinade”?

Depending on how it is used, “marinade” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “marinade” come from?

The word “marinade” comes from French. From French marinade, built on "marine" (of the sea) plus the suffix "-ade," since early versions used seawater or brine.

How many meanings does “marinade” have?

“Marinade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flavoured liquid, often containing an acid like vinegar or citrus, that food is soaked in before cooking.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial