/ˈmærɪneɪt ||; ˈmærəˌnet/(also marinade) verb [I,T] if you marinate food or it marinates, you leave it in a mixture of oil, spices, etc(a marinade)for a long time before it is cooked in order to make it softer or give it a particular flavour （用腌泡汁）浸泡食物