[mac.er.ate] vb -at.ed ; -at.ing [L maceratus, pp. of macerare to soften, steep] vt (1547) 1: to cause to waste away by or as if by excessive fasting
2: to cause to become soft or separated into constituent elements by or as if by steeping in fluid; broadly: steep, soak ~ vi: to soften and wear away esp. as a result of being wetted or steeped -- mac.er.a.tion n -- mac.er.a.tor n