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sulfate

American  
[suhl-feyt] / ˈsʌl feɪt /

noun

  1. Chemistry. a salt or ester of sulfuric acid.


verb (used with object)

sulfated, sulfating
  1. to combine, treat, or impregnate with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or sulfates.

  2. to convert into a sulfate.

  3. Electricity. to form a deposit of lead-sulfate compound on (the lead electrodes of a storage battery).

verb (used without object)

sulfated, sulfating
  1. to become sulfated.

sulfate Scientific  
/ sŭlfāt′ /
  1. A salt or ester of sulfuric acid, containing the group SO 4.


Other Word Forms

  • sulfation noun
  • supersulfate noun

Etymology

Origin of sulfate

From the New Latin word sulphātum, dating back to 1780–90. See sulfur, -ate 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The baddies that you want to look out for… is your mineral oil, your sodium lauryl sulfate, parfum, benzel peroxide" being high up on the ingredients list, Miss Truman says.

From BBC

Tiny particles in ship exhaust, especially sulfate aerosols, play a major role in how clouds form and how bright they become.

From Science Daily

Growing even modest quantities of mycoprotein requires significant inputs, and the spores must be cultivated in large metal tanks filled with sugar-rich feedstock and added nutrients such as ammonium sulfate.

From Science Daily

Sulfur can exist as a gas in the atmosphere, as sulfate dissolved in seawater, or locked within mineral deposits.

From Science Daily

Similar side effects could result from artificial sulfate releases, including acid rain and soil contamination.

From Science Daily