infuse
in-FYOOZ
/ɪnˈfjuːz/
To steep an ingredient in a liquid to extract its flavors, colors, or chemical properties; or to fill something with a particular quality.
Infusing is a gentle, passive extraction process where hot or cold liquid absorbs the essence of an ingredient over time.
The story behind the word. The word 'infuse' comes from the Latin 'infundere,' which literally translates to 'to pour in.' In ancient medicine, it referred to pouring liquid remedies directly into a patient's veins or steeping herbs to create healing drafts.
Word relationships
- steep: Steep is typically used for dry leaves or herbs in hot water (like tea), while infuse is a broader term that can apply to oils, alcohol, or figurative qualities like spirit or energy.
- imbue: Imbue is almost exclusively figurative, meaning to saturate someone's mind with feelings or opinions, whereas infuse has both literal physical and figurative uses.
- extract: Extracting physically pulls something out by force or chemical solvents, whereas infusing is the act of letting a liquid absorb qualities from a submerged item.
Commonly confused with
- diffuse: Diffuse means to spread out or scatter widely over a large area; infuse means to introduce a quality or flavor directly into a specific substance.
Word family
- infusion (noun): The liquid resulting from steeping an ingredient; or the introduction of a new element.
- infused (adjective): Saturated or flavored with an extracted element.
Collocations
- infuse with flavor
- infuse tea
- slowly infuse
- infuse confidence
Example sentences
- "To make the dressing, you can infuse olive oil with fresh rosemary sprigs and crushed garlic over low heat." Creating a flavored cooking oil.
- "The new coach managed to infuse the struggling team with a sense of hope and fierce determination." Figurative use describing inspiring a team with a specific feeling.
Memory hook
Think of 'in' + 'fuse.' You are pouring flavors 'in' so they 'fuse' with the liquid. Pour flavor in to let it fuse.
When not to use
Do not use when physically blending or mixing ingredients together so that the solid particles remain in the final product.
Fun facts
- Cold-brew coffee is a popular example of a cold infusion, where coffee grounds steep in room-temperature water for 12 to 24 hours to extract flavor without the bitter acids released by hot water.
Related words
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