1. (n.) A Hindoo widow who immolates herself, or is immolated, on the funeral pile of her husband; -- so called because this act of self-immolation is regarded as evincing excellence of wifely character.

2. (n.) The act of burning a widow on the funeral pile of her husband.

blazing blistering branding burning burnt offering calcination car of Jagannath carbonization cauterization cautery cineration collection combustion concremation cracking cremation cupellation deflagration destructive distillation disembowelment distillation distilling drink offering ex voto offering felo-de-se flaming hara-kiri heave offering hecatomb holocaust human sacrifice immolation incense incineration infanticide libation mactation mass suicide oblation offering offertory oxidation oxidization parching peace offering piacular offering pyrolysis refining ritual suicide sacramental offering sacrifice scapegoat scorching scorification searing self-destruction self-immolation self-murder self-sacrifice seppuku singeing smelting suicide sutteeism thank offering the stake thermogenesis vesication votive offering whole offering