Putrefaction PUTREFAC'TION, n. [L. putrefactio; putris; putrid, and
facio,to make.] A natural process by which animal and vegetable bodies
are disorganized and dissolved, or reduced to their original separate
elements. Putrefaction is greatly accelerated by heat and moisture.
putrefaction
n 1: a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
[syn: putrefaction, rot]
2: (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal
action [syn: decomposition, rot, rotting,
putrefaction]
3: moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles;
"the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral
degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its
brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen
into moral putrefaction" [syn: corruption, degeneracy,
depravation, depravity, putrefaction]
putrefaction nounEtymology: Middle English putrefaccion, from Late Latin
putrefaction-, putrefactio, from Latin putrefacereDate:
14th century 1. the decomposition of organic matter; especially
the typically anaerobic splitting of proteins by bacteria and fungi with
the formation of foul-smelling incompletely oxidized products 2.
the state of being putrefied ;corruption • putrefactiveadjective
Putrefaction \Pu`tre*fac"tion\, n. [L. putrefactio: cf. F.
putr['e]faction. See Putrefy.]
1. The act or the process of putrefying; the offensive decay
of albuminous or other matter.
Note: Putrefaction is a complex phenomenon involving a
multiplicity of chemical reactions, always accompanied
by, and without doubt caused by, bacteria and
vibriones; hence, putrefaction is a form of
fermentation, and is sometimes called putrefaction
fermentative. Putrefaction is not possible under
conditions that preclude the development of living
organisms. Many of the products of putrefaction are
powerful poisons, and are called cadaveric poisons, or
ptoma["i]nes.
2. The condition of being putrefied; also, that which
putrefied. ``Putrefaction's breath.'' --Shelley.
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