— putrefactive, putrefacient /pyooh'treuh fay"sheuhnt/ , adj.
/pyooh'treuh fak"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the act or process of putrefying; the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter by bacteria and fungi that results in obnoxiously odorous products; rotting.
2. the state of being putrefied; decay.
[ 1350-1400; ME putrefaction- (s. of putrefactio ) a rotting, equiv. to L putrefact ( us ) (ptp. of putrefacere to PUTREFY) + -ion- -ION ]