The Collaborative International Dictionary
Decrepitate \De*crep"i*tate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrepitating.] [Cf. F. d['e]cr['e]piter.] To roast or calcine so as to cause a crackling noise; as, to decrepitate salt.
Decrepitate \De*crep"i*tate\, v. i. To crackle, as salt in roasting.
Wiktionary
vb. 1 (context transitive English) To roast (a salt or mineral) until it stops crackling in the fire. 2 (context intransitive English) Of salts and minerals, to crackle when heated, indicating a sudden breakdown of their particles.
WordNet
v. undergo decrepitation and crackle; "The salt decrepitated"
to roast or calcine so as to cause to crackle or until crackling stops; "decrepitate salts"
Usage examples of "decrepitate".
It swept its head from side to side, taking in the decrepitating lifeboat, Vassily hiding behind it, the rest of the clearing.