saponify

saponify Definition

sa·poni·fy (sə pän′ə fī′)

transitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing

to subject to saponification; specif., to convert (a fat) into soap by reaction with an alkali

Etymology: Fr saponifier < L sapo (gen. saponis), soap (< Gmc *saipo- > OE sape, soap) + Fr -fier, -fy

intransitive verb

to undergo conversion to soap

saponify Related Forms

sa·pon′i·fi′·able adjective sa·pon′i·fi′er noun

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