maceration

American  

[mas-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌmæs əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of macerating.

2. a process in winemaking in which the crushed grape skins are left in the juice until they have imparted the desired color or the proper amount of tannins and aroma.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• self-maceration
  noun

Etymology

Origin of maceration

1485–95; < Latin mācerātiōn-, stem of mācerātiō; see macerate, -ion

Example Sentences

The residues are sorted, ground and mixed with a maceration of gum arabic to facilitate ignition, and with clay to slow combustion.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

It’s a culinary technique — a savory maceration, where the tomatoes release their juices, mingling with basil and salt, becoming something electric.

From Salon • Jun. 9, 2025

This enormous and authoritative work of scholarship, nearly a decade in the making, covers nearly every aspect of its subject matter, from absinthe spoons to maceration to the Zombie.

From New York Times • Dec. 23, 2021

The natives of Bombay are accustomed to use its juice to anoint the soles of their feet during the rainy season in order to toughen the skin and prevent fissures due to prolonged maceration.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers