A building with a special furnace where dead bodies are burned as part of funeral practices, instead of being buried.
From Latin 'crematorium,' derived from 'cremare' (to burn). The word entered English in the mid-1800s as cremation became more common as an alternative to traditional burial.
Cremation has become increasingly popular—now over 50% of deaths in some countries—partly because it's more space-efficient and cheaper, but also because religions and cultures have gradually accepted it, showing how practical needs can slowly reshape even our most sacred traditions.
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