clarify
- 01 C1 Advanced
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.
Simple“The chef had to clarify the butter by heating it and removing the white foam.”
In context“To produce a traditional consommé, the chef must clarify the stock using egg whites to trap any remaining sediment.”
UsageCommonly used in the context of 'clarified butter' or 'clarifying wine'.
Teacher's tipThis is a technical sense; most learners will only encounter it in recipes or chemistry.
Antonyms
Usage clarify meaning · clarify relationship · clarify role
“This story has been updated to clarify that the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is not a state agency.”
“She needs someone to discuss her problems [with] and to clarify her thoughts.”
From Middle English clarifien, from Old French clarifiier, from Latin clārificō, clārificāre; clārus (“clear”) + faciō, facere (“make”). Semantically clear + -ify.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.