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

He was cremated and his ashes were buried next to those of his parents and Jamsetji Tata in a cemetery in London - uniting him once again with the Tata clan and their legacy.

From BBC

Business leaders, politicians and celebrities were among thousands of people who paid their last respects at the centre where his body lay in state before being cremated.

From BBC

The official death certificate also found Amos was cremated nine days after his passing.

From Salon

Hannah said one of the rooms they used was where a pallbearer would "lower the coffins down before they would be cremated... obviously they don’t use it any more".

From BBC

A cat surprised its owners by walking through the cat flap days after it was thought to have been cremated.

From BBC

Related Words

• char
• incinerate