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putrefaction

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
pu·tre·fac·tion  (pytr-fkshn)
n.
1. Decomposition of organic matter, especially protein, by microorganisms, resulting in production of foul-smelling matter.
2. Putrefied matter.
3. The condition of being putrefied.

[Middle English putrefaccioun, from Late Latin putrefacti, putrefactin-, from putrefactus, past participle of Latin putrefacere, to make rotten; see putrefy.]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.putrefactionputrefaction - a state of decay usually accompanied by an offensive odor
decay - an inferior state resulting from the process of decaying; "the corpse was in an advanced state of decay"; "the house had fallen into a serious state of decay and disrepair"
putrescence, putridness, rottenness, corruption - in a state of progressive putrefaction
2.putrefactionputrefaction - (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
biological science, biology - the science that studies living organisms
decay - the process of gradually becoming inferior
3.putrefaction - moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles; "the luxury and corruption among the upper classes"; "moral degeneracy followed intellectual degeneration"; "its brothels, its opium parlors, its depravity"; "Rome had fallen into moral putrefaction"
immorality - the quality of not being in accord with standards of right or good conduct; "the immorality of basing the defense of the West on the threat of mutual assured destruction"
Translations
putrefaction [ˌpjuːtrɪˈfækʃən] Nputrefacción f
putrefaction
nVerwesung f
putrefaction [ˌpjuːtrɪˈfækʃn] nputrefazione f
putrefaction [ˌpjuːtrɪˈfækʃn] nputrefazione f


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? Mentioned in ? References in classic literature
 
Directly Rostov entered the door he was enveloped by a smell of putrefaction and hospital air.
But by virtue of this natural selection of our kind we have developed resisting power; to no germs do we succumb without a struggle, and to many-- those that cause putrefaction in dead matter, for instance --our living frames are altogether immune.
For the first, the ornaments of images gilt, or of marble, which are in use, do well: but the main matter is so to convey the water, as it never stay, either in the bowls or in the cistern; that the water be never by rest discolored, green or red or the like; or gather any mossiness or putrefaction.
 
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