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agar

1 American  
[ah-gahr, ag-er] / ˈɑ gɑr, ˈæg ər /

noun

  1. Also called Japanese isinglass.  Also called Japanese gelatin.  Also called Chinese gelatin.  Also called Chinese isinglass.  Also agar-agar. a gelatinlike product of certain seaweeds, used for solidifying certain culture media, as a thickening agent for ice cream and other foods, as a substitute for gelatin, in adhesives, as an emulsifier, etc.

  2. Biology. a culture medium having an agar base.


Agar 2 American  
[ey-gahr] / ˈeɪ gɑr /

noun

Douay Bible.
  1. Hagar.


agar British  
/ ˈeɪɡə /

noun

  1. Also called: agar-agar.  a complex gelatinous carbohydrate obtained from seaweeds, esp those of the genus Gelidium, used as a culture medium for bacteria, a laxative, in food such as ice cream as a thickening agent ( E406 ), etc

"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

agar Scientific  
/ āgär′,ägär′ /
  1. A gelatinous material obtained from marine algae, especially seaweed, used as a medium for growing bacterial cultures in the laboratory and as a thickener and stabilizer in food products.


Etymology

Origin of agar

First recorded in 1885–90, agar is from the Malay word agaragar seaweed from which a gelatin is rendered, or the gelatin itself

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.

Researchers created a system where mature, green orchids were connected to developing, chlorophyll-free seedlings through a fungal network grown on agar.

From Science Daily

Many bacteria strains lacking these nutrient import systems were defective for growth on bladder and kidney organ agar.

From Science Daily

Schiller explains the process involved using agar plates with a consistency that allowed the cells to swim through it, creating visible halos.

From Science Daily

They developed a straightforward experimental setup in which a microbial colony, a form of biofilm, was grown on agar and directly pressed onto an electrode to assess its electrical conductivity.

From Science Daily

To identify the animals with mutations that made them fertile again, the researchers put the nematodes on agar plates filled with yummy bacteria.

From Science Daily