the decomposition of organic matter, esp the breakdown of proteins by bacteria and fungi, typically in the absence of oxygen, with the formation of foul-smelling, incompletely oxidized products
the state of being putrefied; corruption
putrefacient /-ʹfaysh(ə)nt/ adj
putrefactive /-tiv/ adj
[Middle English putrefaccion from late Latin putrefaction-, putrefactio, from Latin putrefacere: see putrefy]