Marinate means to soak food in a flavorful liquid before cooking it. When you marinate chicken, you might let it sit for hours in a mixture of oil, lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. The liquid seeps into the meat, making it more tender and giving it deeper flavor.

The liquid itself is called a marinade. Different cuisines use different marinades: Korean bulgogi marinates in soy sauce and sesame oil, while Greek souvlaki uses olive oil and oregano. The longer something marinates, the more flavor it absorbs. Some tough cuts of meat benefit from marinating overnight, while delicate fish might need only 15 minutes.

People also use marinate figuratively to mean letting an idea or feeling develop over time. If you're upset about something, someone might tell you not to marinate in your anger, meaning don't dwell on it and let it grow stronger. Or you might let a creative idea marinate in your mind for a few days before deciding how to execute it. Just as food absorbs flavor when it marinates, thoughts and feelings can deepen when you let them sit and develop.