putrefy Hear it!

putrefy Definition

pu·trefy (pyo̵̅o̅trə fī′)

transitive verb, intransitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing

to make or become putrid or rotten; decompose

Etymology: ME putrifien < L putrefacere: see putrid & -fy

putrefy Related Forms
pu·tre·fi′er noun
putrefy Synonyms

putrefy

v.

decay, rot, putresce, decompose; see decay. See syn. study at decay.

putrefy Usage Examples

Object

  • flesh: They increase as bacteria putrefy animal flesh, producing a strong rotting odor.
  • material: Houseflies can transmit diseases when feeding on liquefiable solid food, which may be moist, putrefying material or food stored for human consumption.
  • matter: Thus there is always a quantity of putrefying matter contaminating the air.
  • sore: From the crown of the head to the soles of the feet are you wounds and bruises and putrefying sores?
  • corpse: Nick's manager finds him an isolated country house and while there he comes across the putrefying corpse of his ex wife.. .
  • smell: Our noses were assaulted by the putrefying smell of rotting flesh.

Browse dictionary entries near putrefy

  1. putrefaction
  2. putout
  3. Putnam
  4. putlog
  5. Putin
  6. putative
  7. putamen
  8. put up with
  9. put-up
  10. put to sleep
  1. putrescent
  2. putrescible
  3. putrescine
  4. putrid
  5. puts and calls
  6. putsch
  7. putt
  8. putt-putt
  9. puttee
  10. putter