What does cremation refer to?

Cremation refers to the process of reducing human remains to bone fragments or ashes through the application of heat and flame. This method of disposition involves placing the body in a cremation chamber where it is subjected to high temperatures, allowing for the combustion and vaporization of soft tissue. The remaining bone fragments are then processed into ashes, which can be further handled in a variety of ways according to the wishes of the deceased's family, such as scattering, burying, or keeping in an urn.

The other choices describe different practices related to handling human remains but do not apply to cremation specifically. For instance, the burial of remains involves interring them in the ground, the preservation of remains typically relates to methods such as embalming to slow decomposition, and storing remains in a holding facility is often a temporary arrangement before final disposition. Each of these practices contrasts with the irreversible nature of cremation, which fundamentally changes the state of the remains.