macerate

[mas-uh-reyt]

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verb (used with object), mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

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.

verb (used without object), mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

to undergo maceration.

to become thin or emaciated; waste away.

Origin of macerate

1540–50; < Latin mācerātus (past participle of mācerāre to make soft, weaken, steep); see -ate¹

Related formsmac·er·at·er, mac·er·a·tor, nounmac·er·a·tive, adjectiveun·mac·er·at·ed, adjective

Synonyms for macerate

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR macerate ON THESAURUS.COM

5. shrink, shrivel, fade, wither.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for macerate

permeate, soak, saturate, soften, mash, steep, ret, emaciate

Examples 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 Books
Douglas 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 Fermentation
Arthur Harden
Macerate about 20 grams of the sample after mixing with 30 to 40 cc.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants
Edwin M. Bruce
These two drugs have the power to macerate dry, hard tissues.
Surgery, with Special Reference to Podiatry
Maximilian Stern

British Dictionary definitions for macerate

macerate

verb

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

Derived Formsmacerater or macerator, nounmacerative, adjectivemaceration, noun

Word Origin for macerate

C16: from Latin mācerāre to soften

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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 in Medicine

macerate

[măs′ə-rāt′]

v.

To make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid.

To separate into constituents by soaking.

n.

A substance prepared or produced by macerating.