decanter

American  

[dih-kan-ter] / dɪˈkæn tər /

noun

1. a vessel, usually an ornamental glass bottle, for holding and serving wine, brandy, or the like.

2. a bottle used for decanting.

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decanter British  

/ dɪˈkæntə /

noun

1. a stoppered bottle, usually of glass, into which a drink, such as wine, is poured for serving

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Etymology

Origin of decanter

First recorded in 1705–15; decant + -er ¹

Explanation

Want an extra fancy way to serve a beverage? Put it in a decanter, an elegant glass container with a stopper. A decanter is similar to a carafe, a wide-mouthed vessel for serving liquids, except it has a narrower neck and a stopper. Particularly ornate decanters are made of cut crystal and are meant to hold wine, which some people believe should "breathe" before being poured and sipped. Decanter comes from the verb decant, "to pour," and its Medieval Latin source, decanthare, "pour from the edge of a vessel."

Example Sentences

From an unforgettable decanter to an adorable ottoman, these 8 items will awaken your inner interior designer.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2024

Martin displays terrific comic timing as Butler, deftly channeling the general’s narcissism and exasperation, whether fussing with paperwork or pontificating over the sherry decanter.

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2023

Share your grandmother’s treasured soups and stews, wrap up a piece of Le Creuset cookware, find a collection of soup crocks, a fancy wine decanter or a nice wine bottle stopper.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 18, 2022

“Someone dropped these off this morning,” Douglas Heller, an owner of the gallery with his brother Michael, said, holding up a white decanter and blue pitcher.

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2022

He’s carrying a tray of thimble-size acorn cups and a silvery decanter of what smells like blackberry wine in his large, clawed hands.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• carafe
• flask
• jug