SAPONIFY

[sa.pon.i.fy] vb -fied ; -fy.ing [F saponifier, fr. L sapon-, sapo] vt (1821): to convert (as fat) into soap; specif: to hydrolyze (a fat) with alkali to form a soap and glycerol ~ vi: to undergo saponifying -- sa.pon.i.fi.able adj -- sa.pon.i.fi.ca.tion n -- sa.pon.i.fi.er n