macerate
- to soften or separate into parts by steeping in a liquid.
- to soften or decompose (food) by the action of a solvent.
- to cause to grow thin.
- to undergo maceration.
- to become thin or emaciated; waste away.
Origin of macerate
Synonyms for macerate
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for macerate
Historical Examples of macerate
They put some gum in the water in which they macerate the raggs.
Bookbinding, and the Care of BooksDouglas Cockerell
They put some gum in the water in which they macerate the rags.
The Diary of John Evelyn, Volume II (of 2)John Evelyn
It is not advisable to macerate more than 50 grams in one operation.
Alcoholic FermentationArthur Harden
Macerate about 20 grams of the sample after mixing with 30 to 40 cc.
Detection of the Common Food AdulterantsEdwin M. Bruce
These two drugs have the power to macerate dry, hard tissues.
Surgery, with Special Reference to PodiatryMaximilian Stern
macerate
- to soften or separate or be softened or separated as a result of soaking
- to break up or cause to break up by soakingmacerated peaches
- to become or cause to become thin
Word Origin for macerate
Word Origin and History for macerate
late 15c., a back-formation from maceration or else from Latin maceratus, past participle of macerare "soften, make soft, soak, steep," related to maceria "garden wall," originally "of kneaded clay," from PIE *mak-ero-, suffixed form of root *mag- "to knead" (cf. Greek magis "kneaded mass, cake," mageus "one who kneads, baker;" Old Church Slavonic mazo "to anoint, smear;" Breton meza "to knead;" Middle Irish maistir "to churn"), also "to fashion, fit" (cf. make (v.)). Related: Macerated; macerating.
macerate
(măs′ə-rāt′)- To make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid.
- To separate into constituents by soaking.
- A substance prepared or produced by macerating.