Marination is the process of soaking food in a mixture of spices, acid, and oil before cooking. It enhances the flavor and tenderizes the meat. There are many synonyms for the word "marination" such as pickling, brining, steeping, infusing, soaking, and seasoning. Pickling is the process of preserving food with vinegar, salt, and spices. Brining is the soaking of meat in a saltwater solution to enhance flavor and moisture. Steeping involves soaking food in a liquid to infuse the flavor. Infusing is the process of pouring hot liquid over herbs or spices to extract flavor. Soaking is the act of leaving food in a liquid to absorb flavor. Seasoning is the process of adding spices and herbs to enhance the flavor.