adipocere

[ ad-uh-poh-seer ]
/ ˈæd ə poʊˌsɪər /

noun

a waxy substance produced by the decomposition of dead animal bodies in moist burial places or under water.

Origin of adipocere

1795–1805; < French adipocire, equivalent to adipo- adipo- + cire wax < Latin cēra; English e by association with cēra; cf. cere2

OTHER WORDS FROM adipocere

ad·i·poc·er·ous [ad-uh-pos-er-uh s] /ˌæd əˈpɒs ər əs/, adjective

Words nearby adipocere

adipate, adipic acid, adipo-, adipocele, adipocellular, adipocere, adipocerite, adipocyte, adipogenesis, adipoid, adipokinetic

Example sentences from the Web for adipocere

British Dictionary definitions for adipocere

adipocere
/ (ˌædɪpəʊˈsɪə, ˈædɪpəʊˌsɪə) /

noun

a waxlike fatty substance formed during the decomposition of corpses Nontechnical name: grave-wax

Derived forms of adipocere

adipocerous (ˌædɪˈpɒsərəs), adjective

Word Origin for adipocere

C19: via French from New Latin adiposus fat (see adipose) + French cire wax

Medical definitions for adipocere

adipocere
[ ăd′ə-pō-sîr′ ]

n.

A brown, fatty, waxlike substance that forms on dead animal tissue in response to moisture. lipocere

Other words from adipocere

ad′i•po•cer′a•tous (-sĕr′ə-təs) adj.