Standard Lemma guide

decant

noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /dəˈkænt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ænt
  • CMU ARPABET: D AH0 K AE1 N T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A portion of perfume unofficially sold in a smaller bottle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To pour off (a liquid) gently, so as not to disturb the sediment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To pour from its original vessel into one intended for a different use or appearance.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to decant wine

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To flow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To remove (a clone or other artificially-gestated baby) from its chamber, vat, or artificial womb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: literature, media, publishing, science-fiction

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

To rehouse people while their buildings are being refurbished or rebuilt.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

pour out

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the sommelier decanted the wines

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pour, pour out

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pour

History

Etymology

From French décanter, from Medieval Latin dēcanthāre, from dē- + canthus (“beak of a cup or jug”).

Across languages

Translations

58 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: отдекантирам (otdekantiram) — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Chinese Mandarin: 潷 /滗 (bì) — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Czech: slít — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Danish: dekantere — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Finnish: dekantoida — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • French: décanter — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • German: dekantieren — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: fejt — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: lefejt — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: dekantál — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: szűr — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: leszűr — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: leönt — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Hungarian: lefölöz — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Indonesian: siring — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Italian: decantare — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Māori: āta tāhoro — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Portuguese: decantar — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Russian: деканти́ровать (dekantírovatʹ) — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Spanish: decantar — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Spanish: transvasar — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Spanish: trasvasar — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Swedish: dekantera — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Thai: ริน (rin) — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Ukrainian: декантувати (dekantuvaty) — to pour off gently so as not to disturb the sediment; to decant wine
  • Bulgarian: преливам (prelivam) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Bulgarian: прелея (preleja) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Chinese Mandarin: 倒 (dào) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Czech: stočit — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Dutch: overgieten — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Finnish: kaataa astiasta toiseen — to pour from one vessel into another
  • French: transvaser — to pour from one vessel into another
  • German: umgießen — to pour from one vessel into another
  • German: umfüllen — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Greek: αποχύνω (apochýno) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Greek: μεταφέρω από ένα μπουκάλι σε άλλο (metaféro apó éna boukáli se állo) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: áttölt — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: átvezet — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: szív — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: tölt — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: vezet — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: fejt — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: áttelepít — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: áthelyez — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Hungarian: átönt — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Indonesian: tuang-tuang — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Italian: travasare — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Polish: przelać — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Polish: przelewać — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Russian: перелива́ть (perelivátʹ) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Russian: перели́ть (perelítʹ) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Spanish: transvasar — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Spanish: trasvasar — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Spanish: decantar — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Spanish: trasegar — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Thai: เท (tee) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Thai: ริน (rin) — to pour from one vessel into another
  • Ukrainian: переливати (perelyvaty) — to pour from one vessel into another