infusionlike

Infusionlike is an adjective used to describe something that resembles an infusion or exhibits similar characteristics, especially the gradual transfer of soluble substances from a solid into a liquid by contact, heat, or time.

Origin: formed from infusion + suffix -like; used across disciplines to convey likeness rather than a precise process.

In cooking and beverages, infusionlike flavors describe extraction of volatile compounds from herbs, tea, or spices into water, oil, or fat, typically by steeping at specific temperatures. In pharmacology or medicine, infusionlike release refers to a gradual transfer of a drug from a reservoir into the bloodstream or tissue, resembling infusion but not limited to intravenous administration. In materials science and chemical engineering, infusionlike permeation describes a liquid gradually penetrating a porous solid, leading to saturation or impregnation of the material. Metaphorically, infusionlike can describe the gradual integration of nutrients, signals, or data into a system, such as microbial metabolism or sensor information assimilation.

Notes: Not a formal technical term in most fields; when used, it should be defined to avoid ambiguity.

See also: infusion, maceration, diffusion, percolation.