agar

[ ah-gahr, ag-er ]

/ ˈɑ gɑr, ˈæg ər /

noun

Also a·gar-a·gar. Also called Chinese gelatin, Chinese isinglass, Japanese gelatin, Japanese isinglass. 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.

Biology. a culture medium having an agar base.

Nearby words

aganglionosis, agapanthus, agape, agapetus i, agapetus ii, agar, agaric, agaric acid, agaric mineral, agaricaceous, agaricin

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for agar-agar

The culture of such algae may prove of economic importance; gelatine, glue and agar-agar would be valuable by-products.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 1|Various
The latter had come for the purpose of collecting the gelatinous Fucus, agar-agar.
The Mission to Siam, and Hu the Capital of Cochin China, in the Years 1821-2|George Finlayson
Agar-agar, g′ar-g′ar, n. a nutrient jelly prepared from certain seaweeds, and used in the artificial cultivation of bacteria.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
Agar-agar moss is shipped from Singapore to the extent of 13,000 tons a-year.
The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom|P. L. Simmonds

Certain constipation biscuits, sterilized dry bran, or agar-agar may be eaten with the breakfast cereal.
The Mother and Her Child|William S. Sadler

British Dictionary definitions for agar-agar

agar

/ (ˈeɪɡə) /

noun

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), etcAlso called: agar-agar

Word Origin for agar

C19: Malay

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

Medicine definitions for agar-agar

agar

[ ā′gär′, ä′gär′ ]

n.

A gelatinous material derived from marine algae, used as a base for bacterial culture media and as a stabilizer and thickener in food.

A culture medium containing this material.

Science definitions for agar-agar

agar

[ ā′gär′, ä′gär′ ]

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.