Word of the Day 11.23.08
macerate
mac·er·ate (m
s
-r
t
)
v. mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing, mac·er·ates
v.tr.
1. To make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid.
2. To separate into constituents by soaking.
3. To cause to become lean, usually by starvation; emaciate.
v.intr.
To become soft or separated into constituents by soaking: “His winemaker allowed the juice and skins of the white grapes to macerate together overnight before pressing” Gerald Asher.
n. (-
t)
A substance prepared or produced by macerating.
[Latin mcerre, mcert-; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
macer·ation n.
macer·ator, macer·ater n.
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.
| Verb | 1. | macerate – separate into constituents by soaking
macerate – become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; “the tissue macerated in the water”
separate – divide into components or constituents; “Separate the wheat from the chaff”
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| 2. | macerate – become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of excessive soaking; “the tissue macerated in the water”
soften – become soft or softer; “The bread will soften if you pour some liquid on it”
macerate – separate into constituents by soaking
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| 3. | macerate – soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to disintegrate as a result; “macerate peaches”; “the gizzards macerates the food in the digestive system”
soften – make soft or softer; “This liquid will soften your laundry”
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| 4. | macerate – cause to grow thin or weak; “The treatment emaciated him” |