cremate

verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈmāt 

cremated; cremating

transitive verb

: to subject to cremation

especially : to reduce (a dead body) to mostly tiny bits of bones resembling ash through exposure to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments

cremate a dead body

Examples of cremate in a Sentence

He wants to be cremated when he dies.

Recent Examples on the Web

One man has been arrested after allegedly trying to cremate his dog and then starting a wildfire, named the Bucktail Fire, in Nucla, Colo., in early August, according to the Associated Press, The Denver Post and The Montrose Daily Press. —Charna Flam, People.com, 28 Sep. 2024

There, the bodies were assessed based on their usefulness to medical science: Those that tested positive for infectious diseases or had begun to decompose were cremated. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024

Amos’ body was cremated nine days later on August 30. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2024

Even though the fact that many of them were cremated or their bodies donated to science makes the investigation more difficult, Powell said no one will be overlooked. —Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin crematus, past participle of cremare to burn up, cremate

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cremate

verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈmāt 

cremated; cremating

: to burn (as a dead body) to ashes

cremation

kri-ˈmā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

cremate

transitive verb

cre·​mate ˈkrē-ˌmāt  kri-ˈ 

cremated; cremating

: to subject to cremation

especially : to reduce (a dead body) to mostly tiny bits of bones resembling ash through exposure to flame and intense heat followed by pulverization of bone fragments