macerate

[ mas-uh-reyt ]
/ ˈmæs əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object), mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

to soften or separate into parts by steeping in a liquid.
to soften or decompose (food) by the action of a solvent.
to cause to grow thin.

verb (used without object), mac·er·at·ed, mac·er·at·ing.

to undergo maceration.
to become thin or emaciated; waste away.

Origin of macerate

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

SYNONYMS 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

Example sentences from the Web for macerated

British Dictionary definitions for macerated

macerate
/ (ˈmæsəˌreɪt) /

verb

to soften or separate or be softened or separated as a result of soaking
to break up or cause to break up by soaking macerated peaches
to become or cause to become thin

Derived forms of macerate

macerater or macerator, noun macerative, adjective maceration, noun

Word Origin for macerate

C16: from Latin mācerāre to soften

Medical definitions for macerated

macerate
[ măsə-rāt′ ]

v.

To make soft by soaking or steeping in a liquid.
To separate into constituents by soaking.

n.

A substance prepared or produced by macerating.