retrogradation

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noun

Motion in a retrograde manner.

“The major reason that bread stales is not moisture loss, but rather a process called retrogradation, in which the starch molecules in the bread crystallize.”

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Meanings

nounretrogradation (countable and uncountable, plural retrogradations)

plural retrogradations

  1. countableuncountableMotion in a retrograde manner.
  2. countableuncountableDecline, degradation.
  3. countableuncountablechemistryA reaction that takes place in gelatinized starch when the amylose and amylopectin chains realign themselves, largely responsible for bread becoming stale.

    The major reason that bread stales is not moisture loss, but rather a process called retrogradation, in which the starch molecules in the bread crystallize.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
antecedence

Origin

From retrograde + -ation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Indonesian perubahan sifat pati, retrogradasi
  • perubahan sifat patiTranslations
  • retrogradasiTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

retrogradation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrogradation

MLA

“retrogradation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrogradation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retrogradation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retrogradation.

Source: retrogradation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.