Synonyms

acidulate

American

[uh-sij-uh-leyt] / əˈsɪdʒ əˌleɪt /

verb (used with object)

acidulated, acidulating

to make somewhat acid.
to sour; embitter.

acidulate British

/ əˈsɪdjʊˌleɪt /

verb

(tr) to make slightly acid or sour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

acidulation noun
semiacidulated adjective
superacidulated adjective
unacidulated adjective

Etymology

Origin of acidulate

First recorded in 1725–35; acidul(ous) + -ate ¹

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.

A cup of roselle juice diluted is better to acidulate with than the lemon juice.

From The Khaki Kook Book A Collection of a Hundred Cheap and Practical Recipes Mostly from Hindustan by Core, Mary Kennedy

They narrow the understanding, and at least acidulate the heart; but those two giants, yclept Bread and Cheese, bend me into compliance.

From Biographia Epistolaris, Volume 1. by Turnbull, A.

Filter, acidulate the filtrate with an excess of 10 c.c. of acetic acid, dilute, boil, and titrate.

From A Text-book of Assaying: For the Use of Those Connected with Mines. by Beringer, Cornelius

If tomatoes are not used, acidulate a combination of tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.

From The Khaki Kook Book A Collection of a Hundred Cheap and Practical Recipes Mostly from Hindustan by Core, Mary Kennedy

V. be sour; sour, turn sour &c. adj.; set the teeth on edge. render sour &c. adj.; acidify, acidulate.

From Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases by Roget, Peter Mark

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023