embalmment

American  

[em-bahm-muhnt, em-bahlm-] / ɛmˈbɑm mənt, ɛmˈbɑlm- /

noun

1. the process of embalming a dead body.

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Explanation

The process of preserving a body for a funeral is embalmment. Funeral directors are responsible for a deceased person's embalmment along with many other details. In many cultural traditions and religions, it's important to delay the decomposition of a person's body after they die. In modern times, embalmment is done with chemicals, but for centuries, spices were used to mask any smells of decay. One goal of embalmment is to prepare a body for an open-casket funeral; another is for medical research and education. Embalmment is from embalm and its French source, embaumer, "preserve with spices."