ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cremation

n. C / U
B2 Upper Intermediate US //kɹiˈmeɪʃən// UK //kɹɪmˈeɪʃən// cre·ma·tion

n. the process of burning a dead body to ashes instead of burying it in the ground. It usually happens as part of a funeral service.

n. the reduction of a corpse to its essential elements through combustion. Often contrasted with inhumation or burial in funerary contexts.


SIMPLE

The family chose cremation instead of a traditional burial.

CONTEXTUAL

After the funeral service, the family gathered at the crematorium for the cremation of their loved one.

COMPLEX

While some cultures historically preferred burial to preserve the physical form, modern urban planning has led to a significant increase in the prevalence of cremation due to limited cemetery space.

Origin

Borrowed from Latin cremātiō, cremātiōnis; equivalent to cremate + -ion.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the general practice or process; countable when referring to a specific instance or ceremony.

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