Word of the Day 11.07.08
putrefaction
pu·tre·fac·tion (py
tr
-f
k
shn)
n.
1. Decomposition of organic matter, especially protein, by microorganisms, resulting in production of foul-smelling matter.
2. Putrefied matter.
3. The condition of being putrefied.
[Middle English putrefaccioun, from Late Latin putrefacti
, putrefactin-, from putrefactus, past participle of Latin putrefacere, to make rotten; see putrefy.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
| Noun | 1. | putrefaction – a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
decay – an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; “the corpse was in an advanced state of decay”; “the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair”
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| 2. | putrefaction – (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
biological science, biology – the science that studies living organisms
decay – the process of gradually becoming inferior
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| 3. | putrefaction – moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; “the luxury and corruption among the upper classes”; “moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration”; “its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity”; “Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction”
immorality – the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct; “the immorality of basing the defense of the West on the threat of mutual assured destruction”
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Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2008 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
