cremate

[ kree-meyt ]

verb (used with object)

, cre·mat·ed, cre·mat·ing.

1. to reduce (a dead body) to ashes by fire, especially as a funeral rite.
2. to consume by fire; burn.

cremate

/ krɪˈmeɪt /

verb

1. tr to burn up (something, esp a corpse) and reduce to ash

Derived Forms

• creˈmation, noun
• creˈmationism, noun
• creˈmationist, noun

Other Words From

• cre·ma·tion [kri-, mey, -sh, uh, n], noun
• un·cre·mat·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cremate¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Latin cremātus, past participle of cremāre “to burn to ashes”; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cremate¹

C19: from Latin cremāre

Example Sentences

It was challenged by three women who remained anonymous and went all the way up to the Supreme Court, which upheld the part of the state law that required clinics to bury or cremate remains.

From Slate

Those who opt to bury or cremate on their own pay a funeral home.

From Slate

"I've paid £130 to cremate someone else's cat," she said.

From BBC

Not wanting to burden her neighbour with Ted's body until the family returned from holiday, Ms Knight organised for Heavenly Pets Crematorium to collect the body and cremate it.

From BBC

“I’m never going to get a dime from them, so, I don’t know, it’s a little frustrating,” Crystina Page, who hired the funeral home to cremate her son’s remains in 2019, told the Associated Press.

From BBC

Related Words

• char
• incinerate