maceration

American  

[mas-uh-rey-shuhn] / ˌmæs əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of macerating.

2. a process in winemaking in which the crushed grape skins are left in the juice until they have imparted the desired color or the proper amount of tannins and aroma.

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Other Word Forms

• self-maceration noun

Etymology

Origin of maceration

1485–95; < Latin mācerātiōn-, stem of mācerātiō; macerate, -ion

Example Sentences

He described how there was a reddening of the skin around Noah's forehead as well as "extensive maceration and peeling" of his hands and feet.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

They are typically bottled and consumed in their youth, rarely ever aged in oak, and have a shorter maceration period with the red grape skins resulting in a lighter color.

From Salon • Aug. 7, 2021

They leach into the wine during pressing, maceration and fermentation of the juice.

From Washington Post • Jul. 16, 2021

It’s redolent of apples, herbs, citrus and volcanic soils, and has just the slightest pleasant tannic rasp, courtesy of longer-than-usual maceration with the grape skins.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2016

This and other species yield various important products, the chief being the fibre obtained by maceration from the leaves and roots, and known commercially as American aloe, pita flax, or vegetable silk.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 1 A to Amide by Various