What does "clarify" mean?

1. (to purify a liquid) to make a liquid pure by removing solid pieces or bubbles from it.

How do you use "clarify"?

Commonly used in the context of 'clarified butter' or 'clarifying wine'.

clarify

US //ˈkɫɛɹəˌfaɪ// UK //klˈæɹɪfˌaɪ// clar·i·fy

1 to purify a liquid (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Cooking

to make a liquid pure by removing solid pieces or bubbles from it.

to remove solid matter or impurities from a liquid, such as fat or wine, to make it transparent or pure.

Example

The chef had to clarify the butter by heating it and removing the white foam.

Example

To produce a traditional consommé, the chef must clarify the stock using egg whites to trap any remaining sediment.

Usage

Commonly used in the context of 'clarified butter' or 'clarifying wine'.

Teacher's tip

This is a technical sense; most learners will only encounter it in recipes or chemistry.
- contaminate
- cloud

Origin

From Middle English clarifien, from Old French clarifiier, from Latin clārificō, clārificāre; clārus (“clear”) + faciō, facere (“make”). Semantically clear + -ify.