Cineration is the act of reducing a body to ashes through cremation. The word is spelled with "cine-" which means "ashes" and "-ration" which means "process or act". The IPA phonetic transcription for "cineration" is /ˌsɪnəˈreɪʃən/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound, while the second syllable has a long "e" and a schwa sound. The third syllable ends with an "sh" sound followed by a long "a", and the final syllable has a schwa sound and an "n" sound.
Cineration is a noun that refers to the act or process of reducing something to ashes through the application of intense heat or fire. It is commonly associated with the complete combustion of organic or inorganic materials, resulting in the production of ashes. The word originates from the Latin word "cinis," which means ashes.
This term is often used in the context of the disposal of human or animal remains during cremation, where the deceased body is subjected to high temperatures in a specialized furnace called a cremator. During cineration, the body is completely incinerated, and the resultant ashes, known as cremains, are collected and given to the family or used for other memorial purposes, like scattering or interring.
Cineration can also be applied to other substances such as plants, waste materials, or even certain types of metals. In these cases, the process involves subjecting the material to intense heat, causing it to burn completely and transform into ash. This method is often used for the destruction and disposal of hazardous or toxic waste, ensuring that harmful substances are safely rendered inert.
Overall, cineration is a technical term that describes the process of reducing something to ashes through the application of high temperatures or fire, commonly used in cremation practices and waste management methods.
The word cineration can be traced back to its Latin root cinis which means ashes or dust. The Latin word cinis comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *kenH-, which carries the same meaning. In Latin, the word cinis gave rise to the verb cinerare, meaning to turn into ashes. The noun form cineratio was derived from this verb, which eventually evolved into the English word cineration.