Verb: saponify su'pó-nu,fI
- (chemistry) become converted into soap by being hydrolyzed into an acid and alcohol as a result of being treated with an alkali
"the oil saponified"
- (chemistry) convert into soap by hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating it with an alkali
"saponify oils and fats"
Derived forms: saponifying, saponifies, saponified
See also: saponified, unsaponified
Type of: alter, change, modify
Encyclopedia: Saponify