saponify

(sə pän′ə fī′)

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

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

intransitive verb

to undergo conversion to soap

Related Forms:

See saponify in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb sa·pon·i·fied, sa·pon·i·fy·ing, sa·pon·i·fies

verb, transitive

verb, intransitive

To undergo saponification.

Origin:

Origin: French saponifier

Origin: : Latin sāpō, sāpōn-, hair dye; see saponin

Origin: + French -fier; see -fy

Related Forms:

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