Skip to main content
to acetify

to acetify

9.9
To become sour and change into vinegar
  • verb
  • /əˈsɛtəˌfaɪ/
translation icon : acetificar
  • If exposed to air for too long, wine can acetify and develop a sharp taste.

Examples

  • Bacteria in the mixture will acetify the alcohol, turning it into vinegar over time.

  • The vinegar was produced when the grape juice began to acetify.

  • You can acetify the wine by adding vinegar.

  • The chef often acetifies fruits for his special dishes.

  • Bacteria in the mixture will acetify the alcohol, turning it into vinegar over time.

  • If exposed to air for too long, wine can acetify and develop a sharp taste.

  • The vinegar was produced when the grape juice began to acetify.

Synonyms

to sour
vsto acetify
12 3.4

Become bad in taste or become upset

refers to deliberate change into vinegar rather than natural spoilage
to acidify
vsto acetify
1 6.1

To make something more acidic or sour

specifies turning into vinegar rather than just making it more tart
to acidulate
vsto acetify
  • Specialized
9.4

Make something slightly sour by adding lemon or vinegar

specifies turning into vinegar rather than a slight taste change
to acerbate
vsto acetify
9.9

To make a taste, situation, or feeling more bitter

means conversion into vinegar, not causing bitterness or emotional hurt

Antonyms

to neutralize
  • Specialized
19 5.8

To make an acid or other chemical safe by a reaction

Surface Forms

acetify infinitive
acetified past
acetified past participle
acetifying present participle
acetifies third person singular

Morphology

acetify = acetic (semi-transparent) = acet + ify

The combining form 'acet-' meaning vinegar/acid plus the productive suffix '-ify' ('make') yields 'make or become acidic', but 'acet-' is not a standalone word and may be unfamiliar to many learners.

Etymology

Acetify comes from the root acet-, from Latin acetum, meaning 'vinegar' or 'sour', plus the ending -ify, meaning 'to make'. So, to acetify something is to turn it into 'vinegar' or make it 'sour', and that is why it means 'to make or become acidic'.