Akademik

Macerate
To soften tissues after death by soaking and by enzymatic digestion, as occurs with a stillborn. The word "macerate" comes from the Latin "macero" meaning to soften by soaking (in a liquid).
* * *
To soften by steeping or soaking. [see maceration]

* * *

mac·er·ate 'mas-ə-.rāt vb, -at·ed; -at·ing vt to soften (as tissue) by steeping or soaking so as to separate into constituent elements vi to undergo maceration <allow the drug to \macerate in hot water for one hour>
mac·er·ate 'mas-ə-rət n a product of macerating: something prepared by maceration <examining the chromosomes in a liver \macerate> compare HOMOGENATE

* * *

mac·er·ate (masґər-āt) to soften by wetting or soaking; see maceration.

Medical dictionary. 2011.