adipocere

American  

[ad-uh-poh-seer] / ˈæd ə poʊˌsɪər /

noun

1. a waxy substance produced by the decomposition of dead animal bodies in moist burial places or under water.

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adipocere British  

/ ˌædɪˈpɒsərəs, ˌædɪpəʊˈsɪə, ˈædɪpəʊˌsɪə /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: grave-wax.  a waxlike fatty substance formed during the decomposition of corpses

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Other Word Forms

• adipocerous adjective

Etymology

Origin of adipocere

1795–1805; < French adipocire, equivalent to adipo- adipo- + cire wax < Latin cēra; English e by association with cēra; cere ²

Explanation

The other names of adipocere, "grave wax" and "corpse wax," might give you an idea of what it is: This hard, waxy substance is formed in dead bodies under certain special circumstances. Adipocere is formed only when a body is in a wet, oxygen-free environment without any scavengers, such as insects, to break down the tissues. Under these specific conditions, the body's own fat reacts with water in a process that chemically creates a type of soap! That's right: Soap is made by combining fats with other ingredients, including those present in a waterlogged grave. The result is a waxy, off-white or grayish cast of the body — just don't try to wash with it.

Example Sentences

The fat had reacted with moisture to create a waxy substance called adipocere, which can protect a body from decay.

From Scientific American • Oct. 28, 2022

Geochemical analysis then revealed the rotting balls were made of tilapia adipocere, a hard, waxy substance that feels slippery, like soap, Simpson said.

From Scientific American • Oct. 30, 2013

In the Salton Sea, tilapia adipocere is tinted orange to brown.

From Scientific American • Oct. 30, 2013

Other postmortem changes, such as adipocere, the decomposition of fat, can preserve the appearance of a body’s soft tissues for years but interfere with an autopsy because it makes the tissue crumbly and chalky.

From Slate • Nov. 5, 2012

He is the first to observe and describe that curious product of the decomposition of flesh known to modern chemists as adipocere.

From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern — Volume 6 by Mabie, Hamilton Wright