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

The Limited Lake Edition decanter comes in turquoise, deep blue and amber, and its digitally crafted and 3D-printed base is available in ash and sand.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2024

A bowl of his tempura udon wouldn’t be complete without a sprinkle of shichimi, which, at his dinerlike restaurant, you can find next to the salt and pepper shakers and soy sauce decanter.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

“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

Fortunately, I could move the rose-scented decanter to the bathroom, where it probably belonged, anyway.

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 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