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saponify

Syllabification: (sa·pon·i·fy)
Pronunciation: /səˈpänəˌfī/

Definition of saponify

verb (saponifies, saponifying, saponified)

[with object] Chemistry
  • turn (fat or oil) into soap by reaction with an alkali: (as adjective saponified)saponified vegetable oils
  • convert (any ester) into an alcohol and a metal salt by alkaline hydrolysis.

Derivatives

saponifiable

adjective

saponification

Pronunciation: /səˌpänəfiˈkāSHən/

noun

Origin:

early 19th century: from French saponifier, from Latin sapo, sapon- 'soap'

saponify in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of saponify in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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