Which of the following best defines "cremation"?

Cremation is best defined as the process of reducing a body to ashes through heat. This definition captures the essence of cremation, which involves subjecting the body to high temperatures in a specialized furnace, known as a cremator or cremation chamber, until it is transformed into ash and bone fragments.

This process serves both practical and symbolic functions in many cultures and religious beliefs. It can represent a final farewell and, for some, it may also symbolize the concept of returning to nature or the cycle of life.

While the other options may relate to funerary practices, they do not accurately describe cremation. Burying the deceased pertains to traditional burial practices, while ceremonies to honor the deceased after burial represent a separate aspect of mourning and remembrance. Methods for preserving a body before burial, such as embalming, do not correlate with the cremation process either. Therefore, the definition of cremation specifically centers on the transformation of the body into ashes through intense heat.