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Soak vs Infuse - What's the difference?

soak | infuse | Related terms |

In intransitive terms the difference between soak and infuse

is that soak is to penetrate or permeate by saturation while infuse is to undergo infusion.

In transitive terms the difference between soak and infuse

is that soak is to allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up while infuse is to make an infusion with (an ingredient); to tincture; to saturate.

As a noun soak

is an immersion in water etc.

soak

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • (label) To be saturated with liquid by being immersed in it.
  • * Bible, (w) xxiv. 7
  • Their land shall be soaked with blood.
  • (label) To immerse in liquid to the point of saturation or thorough permeation.
  • (label) To penetrate or permeate by saturation.
  • * Sir (Walter Scott) (1771-1832)
  • The rivulet beneath soaked its way obscurely through wreaths of snow.
  • (label) To allow (especially a liquid) to be absorbed; to take in, receive. (usually + up )
  • * {{quote-book, year=1927, author= F. E. Penny
  • , chapter=4, title= Pulling the Strings , passage=The case was that of a murder. It had an element of mystery about it, however, which was puzzling the authorities. A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff.}}
  • To drink intemperately or gluttonously.
  • (label) To heat a metal before shaping it.
  • To hold a kiln at a particular temperature for a given period of time.
  • (label) To absorb; to drain.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • An immersion in water etc.
  • * "After the climb, I had a nice long soak in a bath."
  • (slang, British) A drunkard.
  • (Australia) A low-lying depression that fills with water after rain.
  • * 1985 , (Peter Carey), Illywhacker , Faber & Faber 2003, p. 38:
  • I set off early to walk along the Melbourne Road where, one of the punters had told me, there was a soak with plenty of frogs in it.

    Anagrams

    * * * English ergative verbs

    infuse

    English

    Verb

    (infus)
  • To cause to become an element of something; to insert or fill.
  • To steep in a liquid, so as to extract the soluble constituents (usually medicinal or herbal).
  • * Coxe
  • One scruple of dried leaves is infused in ten ounces of warm water.
  • To inspire; to inspirit or animate; to fill (with).
  • * Shakespeare
  • Infuse his breast with magnanimity.
  • * Shakespeare
  • infusing him with self and vain conceit
  • To instill as a quality.
  • * Shakespeare
  • That souls of animals infuse themselves / Into the trunks of men.
  • * Jonathan Swift
  • Why should he desire to have qualities infused into his son, which himself never possessed, or knew, or found the want of, in the acquisition of his wealth?
  • To undergo infusion.
  • * Let it infuse for five minutes.
  • To make an infusion with (an ingredient); to tincture; to saturate.
  • (Francis Bacon)
  • (obsolete) To pour in, as a liquid; to pour (into or upon); to shed.
  • * Denham
  • That strong Circean liquor cease to infuse .

    References

    * 1902 Webster's International dictionary. * 1984 Consise Oxford 7th ed.

    See also

    * fuse ----