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

Once a donated cadaver can no longer be used by UCSD, the remains are cremated and scattered or interred in a manner consistent with state law, the university says. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2026

An Irvine animal trainer and his girlfriend were convicted of killing 11 dogs in their care and cremating their bodies to conceal how the pets died. —Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 18 June 2026

In an effort to conceal the causes of death, Sit impersonated the owners and had the dogs cremated, according to prosecutors. —Seamus Bozeman follow, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026

Investigators intercepted the bodies of nine of the dogs before they were cremated. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 15 June 2026

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