Saponification
noun
noun ·6 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The hydrolysis of an ester under basic conditions to form an alcohol and the salt of the acid. countable, uncountable
- 2 a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap) wordnet
- 3 The reaction of a metallic alkali (base) with a fat or oil to form soap. countable, uncountable
Etymology
From French saponification, from saponifier (“saponify”).