putrefaction

pu·tre·fac·tion

noun \ˌpyü-trə-ˈfak-shən\

Definition of PUTREFACTION

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

Examples of PUTREFACTION

1. <clearing the refrigerator of what the previous tenant had left behind was like taking a course in the advanced putrefaction of leftovers>

Origin of PUTREFACTION

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

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to PUTREFACTION

Synonyms: breakdown, decay, decomposition, festering, corruption, putrescence, rot, spoilage

Related Words: crumbling, disintegration, dissolution; curdling, fermentation, moldering, souring

Near Antonyms: growth, maturation, ripening

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Other Biochemistry Terms

bile, biodegradable, capsaicin, keratin, metabolism

Rhymes with PUTREFACTION

abreaction, benefaction, chain reaction, common fraction, complex fraction, counteraction, dark reaction, direct action, interaction, liquefaction, malefaction, overaction, petrifaction, police action, proper fraction, rarefaction, retroaction, satisfaction, simple fraction, single-action, stupefaction, tumefaction