putrefy

American  

[pyoo-truh-fahy] / ˈpyu trəˌfaɪ /

verb (used with object)

putrefied, putrefying

1. to render putrid; cause to rot or decay with an offensive odor.

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verb (used without object)

putrefied, putrefying

1. to become putrid; rot.

   Synonyms:

   spoil , decompose

2. to become gangrenous.

putrefy British  

/ ˌpjuːtrɪˈfækʃən, ˈpjuːtrɪˌfaɪ, ˌpjuːtrɪˈfeɪʃənt /

verb

1. (of organic matter) to decompose or rot with an offensive smell

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Other Word Forms

• putrefaction noun
• putrefactive adjective
• putrefiable adjective
• putrefier noun
• unputrefiable adjective
• unputrefied adjective

Etymology

Origin of putrefy

1350–1400; Middle English putrefien < Middle French putrefier < Vulgar Latin *putreficāre, for Latin putrefacere to make rotten

Example Sentences

Aristotle described them as “exceedingly fond of putrefied flesh.”

From National Geographic

Mules killed in the assault putrefied and attracted swarms of maggots.

From New York Times

Other off-the-shelf fixes discourage pests by creating a “nasal irritation” or have an offensive taste with ingredients such as putrefied egg solids, garlic oil and hot pepper.

From Seattle Times

A: Obviously, meat will putrefy and smell awful.

From Seattle Times

As a result, laboratory studies relied on putrefied tissue samples obtained from dead pupfish collected by National Park Service staff.

From Los Angeles Times