citrate

American

[si-treyt, sahy-] / ˈsɪ treɪt, ˈsaɪ- /

noun

Chemistry.

a salt or ester of citric acid.

citrate British

/ -rɪt, ˈsaɪtreɪt, ˈsɪtreɪt /

noun

any salt or ester of citric acid. Salts of citric acid are used in beverages and pharmaceuticals

"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

citrate Scientific

/ sĭt′rāt′ /

A salt or ester of citric acid.

Etymology

Origin of citrate

First recorded in 1785–95; citr(ic acid) + -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.

If magnesium is combined with chloride, it is recommended for muscle tension and pre-menstrual cramps, while citrate and oxide blends are aimed at digestion and help with constipation.

From BBC • Oct. 24, 2025

Sodium citrate — a food-safe salt that binds the cheese and cream together into that iconic velvety texture Kraft first developed back in the 1910s.

From Salon • Jul. 6, 2025

“Magnesium citrate is used before colonoscopies to really get the bowel going,” said Dr. Li.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2024

Decades ago, to prepare for a colonoscopy, patients first had to clean out their colons using laxatives such as castor oil or magnesium citrate, sometimes over several days.

From Washington Post • Jul. 31, 2022

Iron and quinine citrate is used as a bitter stomachic and tonic.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 4 "Cincinnatus" to "Cleruchy" by Various

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