marinations

Marinations is the plural of marination, the process of soaking food—typically meat, fish, or vegetables—in a seasoned liquid to infuse flavor and often to tenderize.

The term can refer to multiple instances or types of this process: Different marinations work better for different cuts of beef.

It occasionally appears in figurative use, suggesting a prolonged immersion in ideas or influences: Years of marinations in jazz shaped his musical style.