[ sə'pɒnɪfʌɪ ]
■ verb ( saponifies , ~ing , saponified ) Chemistry turn (fat or oil) into soap by reaction with an alkali.
↘convert (any ester) into an alcohol and a salt by alkaline hydrolysis.
Derivatives
saponifiable adjective
saponification noun
Origin
C19: from Fr. saponifier , from L. sapo , sapon- 'soap'.