'Saponification' definitions:

Definition of 'saponification'

noun

A chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an alkali (especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or oil to make soap)

Definition of 'Saponification'

From: GCIDE

Saponification \Sa*pon`i*fi*ca"tion\, n. [Cf. F. saponification. See Saponify.] The act, process, or result, of soap making; conversion into soap; specifically (Chem.), the decomposition of fats and other ethereal salts by alkalies; as, the saponification of ethyl acetate. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'saponification'

From: GCIDE

Hydrolysis \Hy*drol"y*sis\, n. [Hydro-, 1 + -lysis.] (Chem.) A chemical process causing the splitting of a chemical bond by the addition of the elements of water. Where the bond which is split is not part of a ring structure, this process causes formation of two compounds from one compound plus water, as in the hydrolysis of the ester bonds of fats during saponification. [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

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