[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

saponification \sapon`ifica"tion\, n. cf. f. saponification.
   see saponify.
   the act, process, or result, of soap making; conversion into
   soap; specifically chem., the decomposition of fats and
   other ethereal salts by alkalies; as, the saponification of
   ethyl acetate.
   1913 webster
see also:
saponify 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

hydrolysis \hydrol"ysis\, n. hydro-, 1 + -lysis. chem.
   a chemical process causing the splitting of a chemical bond
   by the addition of the elements of water. where the bond
   which is split is not part of a ring structure, this process
   causes formation of two compounds from one compound plus
   water, as in the hydrolysis of the ester bonds of fats during
   saponification.
   webster 1913 suppl. +pjc
see also:
saponification 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

saponification
     n : a chemical reaction in which an ester is heated with an
         alkali especially the alkaline hydrolysis of a fat or
         oil to make soap

Saponification >> S Words
Saponification, definition of term: Saponification
saponification_pag1.html