cremation

Everyday

1. Cremation is burning a dead person's body to ashes, as a respectful way of saying goodbye instead of burying it. tree →
2. A cremation is the ceremony or event when this happens, often at a crematorium after a funeral service. tree →

In the lessons

In family life, after a death, relatives choose burial or cremation; the ashes may be kept in an urn, buried, or scattered in a special place. Hindus and Sikhs usually cremate; many Christians and humanists choose either; Jewish and Muslim tradition usually prefers burial. Phrases: burial or cremation, the cremation service, scatter the ashes, crematorium.

Examples

• Grandpa wanted a cremation, so his ashes are by the sea. tree →
• The cremation took place at the crematorium after the church service. tree →
• We scattered Nan's ashes in her favourite garden. tree →
• In Hinduism, cremation is the usual custom. tree →
• The family talked gently about whether to choose burial or cremation. tree →
• After the cremation, people shared stories over tea. tree →
• But it is not certain that burial by cremation was universally practised by the heathen Slavonians. tree →

Note

Countable for events; uncountable for the practice. Verb cremate (cremated). Place: crematorium. A sad but normal part of life; talk about it gently.