Agency Dictionary

Maceration

nounPronunciation: /ˌmæs.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

What does “Maceration” mean?

The softening or mechanical breaking down of plant tissues and fibers by pounding, soaking, or steeping.

Etymology

From Latin maceratio (the act of soaking or steeping), formed from the verb macerare (to soften by steeping in liquid). Latin macerare covered both the physical process, used in cooking, medicine, and textile work, and a figurative sense of weakening by prolonged hardship or penance. The noun is recorded in English from the late 15th century, at first for the wasting of the body; the sense of softening by steeping is recorded from the 17th century.

Synonyms

steeping
soaking
infusion

Word family

macerate
macerated
macerating

Rhymes with

laceration
moderation
liberation
celebration
preparation
acceleration

Concept

FeitioFeitio is the traditional sacred production process through which ayahuasca or Daime is prepared from jagube vine and chacrona leaves. It encompasses strenuous collective…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Research.2 - Ayahuasca: what it is, origin, preparation and effects of the sacred medicineSeptember 24, 2026Read the edition

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Also from these editions: terms

Chacronanoun: The tropical shrub Psychotria viridis whose leaves provide dimethyltryptamine in the preparation of ayahuasca.
Decoctionnoun: The process of extracting soluble chemicals and active compounds from tough plant materials by continuous boiling in water.
Entheogenicadjective: Relating to or possessing the capacity to induce religious, spiritual, or sacred altered states of consciousness.
Hinarionoun: A consecrated book or collection of received spiritual hymns sung in rhythm to structure and guide ceremonies in Santo Daime.
Jagubenoun: The woody liana Banisteriopsis caapi native to the Amazon rainforest, containing beta-carbolines that inhibit MAO enzymes.
Miracaonoun: A vivid visual, symbolic, or spiritual visionary experience occurring during the peak effects of an ayahuasca ceremony.
Neuroplasticadjective: Relating to or exhibiting the structural and functional adaptiveness of neural networks within the brain.
Pan-Amazonianadjective: Encompassing, spanning, or characteristic of the entire geographic and cultural territory of the Amazon basin.
Rezonoun: A formal spiritual prayer or spoken invocation chanted to inaugurate, direct, or conclude a traditional sacred gathering.
Serotonergicadjective: Related to, producing, or activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin or its corresponding receptors.
Syncreticadjective: Characterized by the fusion or combination of different forms of belief, cultural practices, or theological doctrines.