Saponification
Pronunciation : Sa*pon`i*fi*ca"tion
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Cf. F. saponification. See Saponify.]
Definition : Defn: 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.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913