Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To pour off (wine, for example) without disturbing the sediment.
  • transitive verb To pour (a liquid) from one container into another.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To pour off gently, as liquor from its sediment; pour from one vessel into another.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another; as, to decant wine.
  • verb science fiction To remove a clone from its chamber, vat, or artificial womb.
  • verb To rehouse people while their buildings are being refurbished or rebuilt

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb pour out

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Medieval Latin dēcanthāre : Latin dē-, de- + Latin canthus, rim of a wheel or vessel (of Celtic origin).]

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Examples

  • So even when I read an old series that is done, I leave some time between the books to "decant" so to speak.

    Reviews: MultiReal / Starship: Mutiny Lou Anders 2008

  • Every time that they cried "to arms" I used to send fifty-four knights, who were called "decant" because they each headed ten men whenever we rode out under arms.

    The Memoirs of the Lord of Joinville 1906

  • The council's plans to potentially use the existing Tynecastle High premises as a "decant" facility for pupils at James Gillespie's during the rebuilding of the existing school were revealed by education leader Marilyne MacLaren.

    unknown title 2009

  • The council's plans to potentially use the existing Tynecastle High premises as a "decant" facility for pupils at James Gillespie's during the rebuilding of the existing school were revealed by education leader Marilyne MacLaren.

    unknown title 2009

  • The council's plans to potentially use the existing Tynecastle High premises as a "decant" facility for pupils at James Gillespie's during the rebuilding of the existing school were revealed by education leader Marilyne MacLaren.

    unknown title 2009

  • This sounds wonderfully cool, however the grammar nazi in me must point out that the OP should have used "decant" and "liquor".

    The RiotACT 2008

  • This sounds wonderfully cool, however the grammar nazi in me must point out that the OP should have used "decant" and "liquor".

    The RiotACT 2008

  • If you want to drink it now, decant it for at least an hour.

    New York Cork Club 2009

  • If you want to drink it now, decant it for at least an hour.

    LENNDEVOURS: 2009

  • He also said that it was tough to taste Bordeaux that was so clearly meant for the long haul at this point in its evolution and praised the organizer, Howard Kaplan of EWS, for “taking time away from his family this morning” to double decant the wines (from bottle to a decanter, then back into the rinsed bottle).

    Tasting Bordeaux 2005 blind with Robert Parker | Dr Vino's wine blog 2009

Comments

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  • The Online Dictionary gives an additional meaning (chiefly Brit): to rehouse people while their homes are being renovated.

    I encountered this meaning recently in New Zealand therefore my interest.

    April 5, 2009

  • my favorite word ever

    December 9, 2012