Meaning & use
the crematory
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Meanings
nouncountable
A building or place where the bodies of dead people are burned as part of a funeral ceremony.
Grammar: Countable noun; use 'a crematory' for one, 'the crematory' for a specific one, and 'crematories' for more than one.
Patterns
- at the crematory
- a crematory service
- the crematory building
The family gathered at the crematory for a short service before the burial of the ashes.
The old crematory on the edge of town was rebuilt after the fire.
She works as a technician at the crematory and handles the paperwork for each family.
adjectivebefore a noun
Relating to or used for cremation.
Grammar: Used only before a noun, as in 'crematory oven' or 'crematory process'; it is not used after a verb.
Patterns
- crematory oven
- crematory process
- crematory service
The crematory oven must be kept at a very high temperature.
They discussed the crematory process with the funeral director.
The crematory service was brief and quiet.
Word forms
| plural | crematories |
|---|
Common combinations
- at the crematory
- The ceremony will be held at the crematory at noon.
- crematory oven
- The crematory oven is checked for safety every month.
- crematory service
- They planned a simple crematory service with no flowers.
- crematory building
- The crematory building is behind the main chapel.
Synonyms and how they differ
- crematorium
- More common in British English and often used for the whole facility, including the chapel; 'crematory' is more common in American English.
- funeral home
- A place that prepares bodies and arranges funerals, but it may not have a crematory on site.
Word family
- cremate verb
- To burn a dead body as part of a funeral.
- cremation noun
- The act or ceremony of burning a dead body.
Commonly confused: the crematory or crematorium? the crematory or cemetery?
the crematory vs crematorium
The usual British word for the same place; 'crematory' is more American. Both are correct, but learners should recognize both.
the crematory vs cemetery
A cemetery is a place where bodies are buried, not burned; a crematory is where bodies are cremated.
Practice
The family chose to hold the service at the ______ rather than at the church.
Choose one answer.
'Crematory' is the place where the service can be held, so it fits after 'at the'. 'Cemetery' is a burial ground, 'cremation' is the process, and 'cremate' is a verb, so none of them fits the sentence.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the crematory”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.