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Explanation: That's how I see it; it does not really matter whether it is full or empty. A bottle is still a bottle with or without content, isn't it? :)
"Carafe" is a synonym; the Russian word is "графин", AFAIK.
Grammatically, it should be a container FOR walnut oil.
However, as there is no special feature that distinguishes a container for walnut oil from a container for any other oil, it can only become a walnut oil container when it is filled with walnut oil!
Hence, logically, it has to be a container OF walnut oil.
This is not the same case as a wine glass which is distinguishable from any other glass whether it is full or empty.
It could, of course, be container for oil made of walnut wood but I don't believe that is in question here. Certainly, the picture given as context clearly (sic) shows a glass container.
I don't think it applies a jot here but before opening the question itself I did wonder whether the issue was whether this a decanter (probably glass) for holding walnut oil, or an oil decanter made of walnut wood. Should the second type exist then that would be a tricky one to call with no more context.
In EFL teaching, Katsy's wine glass vs glass of wine example is a classic. The term questioned refers to the purpose of the decanter (it's for holding oil). This is not the same as a "decanter of walnut oil", which indeed must actually contain some oil. But I wouldn't expect it to be a question asked by someone who translates INTO English.
is simply that. It does NOT specify or even imply that the decanter is either full or empty.
Only the context (which is not provided here) or - preferably (if you are worried) - the client can answer that, and, indeed, whether the question is relevant or not. I'm afraid this is not apparent on the face of it :(
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
With oil
16:42 Sep 21, 2014
I agree with other answers that usually a decanter means the bottle, regardless of whether it is full or not. But in the picture it seems clear that the decanter is sold with the oil in it; it is simply a different (nicer) bottle than the first one and it is has the advantage of being refillable.
As Carol says, this structure implies that it is a decanter whose purpose is to hold walnut oil (whether full or empty). A wine glass is a glass for holding wine.... regardless of whether there is wine in it. If one wanted to make it absolutely clear that this is a decanter with walnut oil in it, one would say " a decanter of (full of/filled with/containing) walnut oil"
and without any further context (surrounding text??) it seems immaterial whether or not it's full or empty. As someone has pointed out, a bottle/glass/decanter is a bottle/glass/decanter regardless of whether contains anything at the time. Here, the term in question suggests to me exactly that: a decanter whose purpose is to hold walnut oil.
But maybe there's something in the context that has been omitted that might suggest otherwise? If so, it''s important that you supply this, along with your explanation regarding the relevance of the empty/full question!
Sorry, I wrote several time the same about oil. What I want to ask is, does the expression "walnut oil decanter" mean that the bottle is full or empty?
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Answers
12 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +8
walnut oil decanter
(walnut oil) carafe
Explanation: That's how I see it; it does not really matter whether it is full or empty. A bottle is still a bottle with or without content, isn't it? :)
"Carafe" is a synonym; the Russian word is "графин", AFAIK.
Hope this helps, Rafal.
Rafal Piotrowski United Kingdom Local time: 11:58 Native speaker of: Polish
peer agreement (net): +8