What is a defining characteristic of cremation compared to traditional burial?

The defining characteristic of cremation in comparison to traditional burial is that it reduces the body to ashes. This process involves subjecting the body to intense heat, resulting in the cremated remains, often referred to as ashes or cremains, which can be kept in an urn, scattered, or otherwise handled according to the wishes of the deceased or their family.

In contrast, traditional burial involves placing the body intact in the ground, typically within a casket, and does not involve any transformation of the body into a different state like cremation does. This fundamental difference in the final disposition of the body is what makes the reduction to ashes a key characteristic that distinctly identifies cremation as a form of disposition.