decrepitate

1 of 2

verb

de·​crep·​i·​tate di-ˈkre-pə-ˌtāt 

decrepitated; decrepitating; decrepitates

transitive verb

: to roast or calcine (a substance, such as salt) so as to cause crackling or until crackling stops

intransitive verb

: to become decrepitated

decrepitation

di-ˌkre-pə-ˈtā-shən 

noun

decrepitation

2 of 2

noun

de·​crep·​i·​ta·​tion

plural -s

: the breaking up or crackling of certain crystals upon heating

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably from New Latin *decrepitatus, past participle of *decrepitare, from Latin de- + crepitare to crackle — more at crepitate

Noun

probably from (assumed) New Latin decrepitation-, decrepitatio, from (assumed) New Latin decrepitatus + Latin -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

1646, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for decrepitate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Medical Definition

decrepitate

verb

de·​crep·​i·​tate di-ˈkrep-ə-ˌtāt 

decrepitated; decrepitating

transitive verb

: to roast or calcine (as salt) so as to cause crackling or until crackling stops

intransitive verb

: to become decrepitated

decrepitation

-ˌkrep-ə-ˈtā-shən 

noun