Definition

Verb (transitive): 1. To make alcoholic, as by fermenting: To cause a substance to contain alcohol, typically through a process of fermentation. 2. To treat or infuse with alcohol: To add alcohol to or saturate something with alcohol.

Usage

The verb "alcoholise" describes the action of introducing alcohol into a substance. It is a technical term often used in chemistry, food science, or medicine. The process can be biological (like fermentation) or physical (like infusion or saturation).

Examples

1. To make alcoholic:

   • The yeast will alcoholise the fruit juice, turning it into wine.
   • The ancient process to alcoholise grains produces beer.

2. To treat or infuse with alcohol:

   • To preserve the specimen, the scientists alcoholise it in a high-proof solution.
   • Some recipes instruct you to alcoholise the dried fruit for a richer flavor.

Advanced Usage

• In a medical/preservation context: The term can describe preserving biological tissues in alcohol.
  • The laboratory protocol requires us to alcoholise the tissue samples immediately after dissection.

Variants and Related Words

• Alcoholize: The preferred spelling in American English. It is a direct synonym and variant of "alcoholise".
  • The recipe says to alcoholize the cherries for the cake.
• Alcohol (n): The intoxicating agent in drinks like beer, wine, and spirits.
• Alcoholic (adj): Containing or related to alcohol.

Synonyms

• Ferment: (To undergo or cause to undergo fermentation, often leading to alcohol production).
• Imbue with alcohol: (To infuse or saturate with alcohol).
• Saturate with alcohol: (To soak thoroughly with alcohol).

Antonyms

• De-alcoholise / De-alcoholize: (To remove alcohol from a substance).
  • They de-alcoholise the wine to create a non-alcoholic version.

Notes

• "Alcoholise" is less common than its variant "alcoholize", especially in American English. Both forms are correct.
• This is a technical verb. In everyday conversation about making alcoholic drinks, words like "brew", "ferment", or simply "make" are more frequently used.

Verb

1. make alcoholic, as by fermenting
   • alcoholize prunes
2. treat or infuse with alcohol
   • alcoholize the fruit and let them sit in the refrigerator