释义 |
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024sa•pon•i•fy (sə pon′ə fī′),USA pronunciation v., -fied, -fy•ing. [Chem.]v.t. - Chemistryto convert (a fat) into soap by treating with an alkali.
- Chemistryto decompose (any ester), forming the corresponding alcohol and acid or salt.
v.i. - Chemistryto become converted into soap.
- Latin sāpōn- (stem of sāpō) soap + -ify
- 1815–25
sa•pon′i•fi′a•ble, adj. sa•pon′i•fi•ca′tion, n. sa•pon′i•fi′er, n. Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: saponify /səˈpɒnɪˌfaɪ/ vb ( -fies, -fying, -fied)- to undergo or cause to undergo a process in which a fat is converted into a soap by treatment with alkali
- to undergo or cause to undergo a reaction in which an ester is hydrolysed to an acid and an alcohol as a result of treatment with an alkali
Etymology: 19th Century: from French saponifier, from Latin sāpō soapsaˈponiˌfiable adj saˈponiˌfier n saˌponifiˈcation n |