English Explanatory Dictionary

despumate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To skim the froth or other impurities from a liquid, to clarify, purify.
  2. To throw off impurities in spume; to work off in foam or scum; to foam.
  3. To throw off as foam, froth.

Word forms

despumate despumates despumating despumated

Etymology

First attested in 1651; borrowed from Latin dēspūmātus, perfect passive participle of dēspūmō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from dē- + spūmō (“to foam, froth”), spūma (“foam, froth, scum”) + -ō. Doublet of despume.

Related words

despumation
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