MUMMIFICATION

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does mummification mean? 

• MUMMIFICATION (noun)
  The noun MUMMIFICATION has 3 senses:

1. a condition resembling that of a mummy

2. (pathology) gangrene that develops in the presence of arterial obstruction and is characterized by dryness of the dead tissue and a dark brown color

3. embalmment and drying a dead body and wrapping it as a mummy

  Familiarity information: MUMMIFICATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MUMMIFICATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A condition resembling that of a mummy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Context example:

bureaucratic mummification in red tape

Hypernyms ("mummification" is a kind of...):

condition; status (a state at a particular time)

Derivation:

mummify (preserve while making lifeless)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(pathology) gangrene that develops in the presence of arterial obstruction and is characterized by dryness of the dead tissue and a dark brown color

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

cold gangrene; dry gangrene; mumification necrosis; mummification

Hypernyms ("mummification" is a kind of...):

gangrene; slough; sphacelus (necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass)

Domain category:

pathology (the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Embalmment and drying a dead body and wrapping it as a mummy

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("mummification" is a kind of...):

embalmment (preservation (of a dead body) by treating with balsams and drugs and other chemicals)

Derivation:

mummify (remove the organs and dry out (a dead body) in order to preserve it)

 Context examples 

A tumor composed of cells resembling those of the hair matrix, which undergo 'mummification' and may calcify.

(Pilomatricoma, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

According to the researchers, sacrifice and mummification of sacred ibises was common in Egypt from about 664 b.c.e. to 250 c.e., from the twenty-sixth dynasty into the early period of Roman Egypt.

(Ancient Egyptians collected wild ibis birds for sacrifice, says study, Wikinews)