macerate

[ mas-uh-reyt ]
See synonyms for: maceratemacerated on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.
  1. to soften or separate into parts by steeping in a liquid.

  2. to soften or decompose (food) by the action of a solvent.

  1. to cause to grow thin.

verb (used without object),mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.
  1. to undergo maceration.

  2. to become thin or emaciated; waste away.

Origin of macerate

1
1540–50; <Latin mācerātus (past participle of mācerāre to make soft, weaken, steep); see -ate1

Other words for macerate

Other words from macerate

  • mac·er·at·er, mac·er·a·tor, noun
  • mac·er·a·tive, adjective
  • un·mac·er·at·ed, adjective

Words Nearby macerate

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How to use macerate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for macerate

macerate

/ (ˈmæsəˌreɪt) /


verb
  1. to soften or separate or be softened or separated as a result of soaking

  2. to break up or cause to break up by soaking: macerated peaches

  1. to become or cause to become thin

Origin of macerate

1
C16: from Latin mācerāre to soften

Derived forms of macerate

  • macerater or macerator, noun
  • macerative, adjective
  • maceration, noun

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