Go to MSN Homeencarta®
Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Click to move up the list of words
macadamia
macadamia nut
macadamize
macafouchette
Macao
macaque
macarena
macaroni
macaroni cheese
macaronic
macaroon
Macau
macaw
Macc.
Maccabees
maccaboy
macchiato
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

macerate
mac·er·ate [ mássə ràyt ]


transitive and intransitive verb  (past and past participle mac·er·at·ed, present participle mac·er·at·ing, 3rd person present singular mac·er·ates)
Definition:
 
1. soften by soaking: to soften something by soaking it in liquid, or become soft by soaking in liquid
2. separate by soaking: to make something break up into pieces or into its various parts by soaking it in liquid, or break up in this way
3. reduce or waste away: to make somebody or something thin or lean, or become thin or lean, especially by starvation or fasting


noun  (plural mac·er·ates)
Definition:
 
something produced by soaking: something prepared by soaking in a liquid
[Mid-16th century. < Latin macerat-, past participle of macere "soften"]

mac·er·a·tion [ màssə ráysh'n ] noun
Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Advertisement
© 2009 Microsoft