putrefactive

1 9.9

To make dead plants or animals rot and smell bad

adjective
/ˌpjuːtrəˈfæktɪv/

Specialized

: putrefactivo

The putrefactive bacteria caused the food to spoil quickly.

Examples

Proper refrigeration inhibits putrefactive changes in perishable foods.
The scientist studied the putrefactive bacteria responsible for decomposing organic matter.
A putrefactive odor filled the room, indicating that the meat had spoiled.
Some putrefactive processes can lead to serious health issues.
The putrefactive bacteria in the food caused a terrible smell in the kitchen.
In the laboratory, the scientist studied the putrefactive process of organic matter.
The old, putrefactive remains of the fish attracted numerous flies.

Synonyms

putrefacient

vsputrefactive

Specialized

9.9

Causing dead plants or animals to rot, often by bacteria

is specifically about bacterial decay rather than general decomposition

How Decomposed

putrefactive

Specialized

1 9.9

putrid

13 7.0

putrescent

1 9.9

intact

272 3.7

Surface Forms

putrefactive positive

Morphology

putrefactive = putrefaction (transparent) = putrefact + ive

The adjective is a regular derivation meaning 'relating to or causing putrefaction' formed by an adjectival suffix (-ive) on the putrefaction stem, so a learner who knows 'putrefaction' or 'putrefy' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Putrefactive comes from Latin parts putr- meaning 'rot' and -facere meaning 'to make', so it originally meant 'making rot'. A helpful way to remember it is to see the same root in putrid ('rotten'), so a putrefactive thing is one that causes or helps rotting.