Pronunciation: [kɹɪmˈe͡ɪt] (IPA) 
The word "cremate" is spelled with a silent "a". The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cremate" is /kriːmeɪt/. The "a" in the spelling is silent and is not pronounced. The word is pronounced with a long "e" sound /iː/ followed by the "m" sound /m/. This is followed by the "ay" diphthong /eɪ/ and the "t" sound /t/. Overall, the word "cremate" is pronounced as kree-mayt with a stress on the first syllable.
Cremate is a verb that refers to the process of reducing a deceased body to ashes and fragments, typically through burning. The term specifically pertains to the procedure carried out in a crematory or crematorium, which involves the application of intense heat and flames to the deceased individual's body. Cremation is considered an alternative to traditional burial and provides a means of disposition for the remains.
The process usually begins with placing the deceased inside a special container, often referred to as a cremation casket or a cremation container. This container is then placed in a cremation chamber, also known as a retort or a crematory oven. The temperature within the chamber is raised to approximately 1400-1800 degrees Fahrenheit (760-982 degrees Celsius) using natural gas, propane, or other fuel sources. The high heat rapidly dehydrates the body and begins the incineration process.
As the body is subjected to the extreme temperatures, it undergoes various chemical reactions. Organic material is oxidized, while soft tissues vaporize, and bones calcify before fracturing into smaller fragments. The process typically takes a few hours, and what remains after cremation is commonly referred to as ashes, though they are technically pulverized bone fragments.
The ashes are subsequently collected and processed, often through grinding or sieving, to ensure a more uniform and consistent texture. Once processed, the ashes are typically placed in an urn or another suitable container and returned to the deceased person's family or to a designated individual.
Cremation has become increasingly popular in many cultures and religions due to its perceived simplicity, flexibility, and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional burial methods.
To consume by fire, especially to reduce the bodies of the dead to ashes in an intensely heated oven.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cremate" originated from the Latin verb "cremare", which means "to burn" or "to consume by fire". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ker-", meaning "to scorch" or "to burn". Over time, "cremare" developed into the Late Latin word "crematio", which later influenced the formation of the English word "cremate".
