What is a key component of the definition of cremation?

A key component of the definition of cremation is indeed the burning of human remains. Cremation is a process that involves the application of high heat and flame to reduce the body to its basic elements, primarily bone and ash. This definition captures the essential characteristic of cremation, distinguishing it from other processes of handling human remains, such as burial or storage of ashes.

While burial involves placing the body in the ground and retaining bones refers to the eventual handling of cremated remains, these aspects do not define cremation itself. Cremation specifically focuses on the transformation of the body through combustion, which is central to the practice and important in understanding the procedures and regulations surrounding it in the context of funeral practices. Consequently, understanding cremation as the burning of human remains is foundational to any discussion about this method of final disposition.