Main Entry: pu·tre·fac·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌpyü-trə-ˈfak-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English putrefaccion, from Late Latin putrefaction-, putrefactio, from Latin putrefacere

Date: 14th century

1 : the decomposition of organic matter; especially : the typically anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with the formation of foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products
2 : the state of being putrefied : corruption

— pu·tre·fac·tive \-ˈfak-tiv\ adjective