incinerate

The definition of incinerate is to burn something until only ashes remain.

(verb)

An example of incinerate is to cremate a body.

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See incinerate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

transitive verb, intransitive verb incinerated, incinerating

to burn to ashes; burn up; cremate

Origin: < ML incineratus, pp. of incinerare, to burn to ashes < L in, in, to + cinis (gen. cineris), ashes < IE *kenis < base *ken-, to scratch, rub > Gr konis, dust, ashes

Related Forms:

See incinerate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb in·cin·er·at·ed, in·cin·er·at·ing, in·cin·er·ates
verb, transitive
To cause to burn to ashes.
verb, intransitive
To burn completely.

Origin:

Origin: Medieval Latin incinerāre, incinerāt-

Origin: : Latin in-, causative pref.; see in-2

Origin: + Latin cinis, ciner-, ashes

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Related Forms:

  • in·cinˌer·aˈtion noun

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