Dictionary Home »
Webster's New World College Dictionary » saponification
saponification
saponification definition
sa·poni·fi·ca·tion (sə pän′ə fi kā′s̸hən)
noun
the conversion of an ester heated with an alkali into the corresponding alcohol and acid salt; specif., this process carried out with fats (glyceryl esters) to produce soap
Etymology: Fr < saponifier: see saponify
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Browse dictionary definitions near saponification
Share on Facebook