maceration

[ mas-uh-rey-shuh n ]
/ ˌmæs əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

the act or process of macerating.
a process in winemaking in which the crushed grape skins are left in the juice until they have imparted the desired color or the proper amount of tannins and aroma.

Origin of maceration

1485–95; < Latin mācerātiōn-, stem of mācerātiō; see macerate, -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM maceration

self-mac·er·a·tion, noun

Example sentences from the Web for maceration

Medical definitions for maceration

maceration
[ măs′ə-rāshən ]

n.

Softening by soaking in a liquid.
Softening of the tissues after death by autolysis, especially of a stillborn fetus.