putrefaction
Americannoun
-
the act or process of putrefying; the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by bacteria and fungi that results in obnoxiously odorous products; rotting.
-
the state of being putrefied; decay.
Other Word Forms
- putrefacient adjective
- putrefactive adjective
Etymology
Origin of putrefaction
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin putrefactiōn- (stem of putrefactiō ) a rotting, equivalent to Latin putrefact ( us ) (past participle of putrefacere to putrefy ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“At death, virus replication stops and putrefaction and heat begins to neutralize live virus,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times
The putrefaction of flesh caused many corpses to inflate.
From Seattle Times
Gut bacteria, especially a class of microbes called Clostridia, spread through your organs and digest you from the inside out in a process called putrefaction.
From Salon
"He's in the putrefaction stage now, because of the water."
From BBC
And she regrets to inform us that the putrefaction touches every corner of the place.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
