Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Macerate \Mac"er*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Macerated}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Macerating}.] [L. maceratus, p. p. of macerare to
   make soft, weaken, enervate; cf. Gr. ? to knead.]
   1. To make lean; to cause to waste away. [Obs. or R.]
      --Harvey.

   2. To subdue the appetites of by poor and scanty diet; to
      mortify. --Baker.

   3. To soften by steeping in a liquid, with or without heat;
      to wear away or separate the parts of by steeping; as, to
      macerate animal or vegetable fiber.

Source : WordNet®

macerate
     v 1: separate into constituents by soaking
     2: become soft or separate and disintegrate as a result of
        excessive soaking; "the tissue macerated in the water"
     3: soften, usually by steeping in liquid, and cause to
        disintegrate as a result; "macerate peaches"; "the
        gizzards macerates the food in the digestive system"
     4: cause to grow thin or weak; "The treatment emaciated him"
        [syn: {waste}, {emaciate}]