bidentate

American  

[bahy-den-teyt] / baɪˈdɛn teɪt /

adjective

Biology.

1. having two teeth or toothlike parts or processes.

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bidentate British  

/ baɪˈdɛnˌteɪt /

adjective

1. having two teeth or toothlike parts or processes

2. chem (of a ligand) having two atoms from which electrons can be donated to the central coordinated atom

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Etymology

Origin of bidentate

1750–60; < Latin bident- (stem of bidēns, equivalent to bi- bi- ¹ + dēns tooth) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The chiral ligand directs the three dimensional configuration of the product, while the achiral bidentate ligand enhances catalytic performance.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2026

Ligands with two donor groups are bidentate ligands.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Leaves succubous, bidentate; underleaves 2-cleft, with linear divisions.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

Leaves roundish or subquadrate, bidentate, bifid, or sometimes 3–5-cleft; underleaves none, or small and mostly 2-parted; perianth usually strongly plicate.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa

Leaves succubous, ovate or roundish, entire or retuse, rarely bidentate; underleaves minute, sometimes obscure or wanting.

From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Gray, Asa