decant

verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

dē-

decanted; decanting; decants

transitive verb

1

: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers

2

: to pour (a liquid, such as wine) from one vessel into another

decanted the wine before the meal

3

: to pour out, transfer, or unload as if by pouring

I was decanted from the car …

—Ursula G. Bower

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Examples of decant in a Sentence

The bottles were uncorked and the wine was decanted an hour before the meal.

Recent Examples on the Web

Even friends who don’t enjoy wine will get a kick out of watching grape juice twirl through the double spirals, which serve to decant the wine while oxygenating it, resulting in fuller flavors and aromas. —Sophie Dodd, Bon Appétit, 10 Dec. 2024

When decanting products, add a label directly to the container to retain their expiration dates. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024

Oxo Good Grips Medium Square Pop Container One of the best ways to keep sugar or flour fresh is to decant them. —Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2024

In the case of decanting food, airtight containers preserve ingredients. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin decantare, from Latin de- + Medieval Latin cantus edge, from Latin, iron ring round a wheel — more at cant entry 4

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

decant

verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

: to pour from one container into another

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

decant

transitive verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun