coagulate

American  

[koh-ag-yuh-leyt, koh-ag-yuh-lit, -leyt] / koʊˈæg yəˌleɪt, koʊˈæg yə lɪt, -ˌleɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

coagulated, coagulating

1. to change from a fluid into a thickened mass; curdle; congeal.

   Let the pudding stand two hours until it coagulates.

   Synonyms:

   thicken, solidify, set, clot

2. Biology. (of blood) to form a clot.

3. Physical Chemistry. (of colloidal particles) to flocculate or cause to flocculate by adding an electrolyte to an electrostatic colloid.

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adjective

1. Obsolete. coagulated.

coagulate British  

/ kəʊˈæɡjʊlətɪv /

verb

1. to cause (a fluid, such as blood) to change into a soft semisolid mass or (of such a fluid) to change into such a mass; clot; curdle

2. chem to separate or cause to separate into distinct constituent phases

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noun

1. the solid or semisolid substance produced by coagulation

Other Word Forms

• anticoagulating adjective
• anticoagulation noun
• coagulability noun
• coagulable adjective
• coagulation noun
• coagulative adjective
• coagulatory adjective
• noncoagulating adjective
• noncoagulation noun
• noncoagulative adjective
• recoagulate verb
• recoagulation noun
• uncoagulated adjective
• uncoagulating adjective
• uncoagulative adjective

Etymology

Origin of coagulate

1350–1400 for earlier past participle senses “solidified, clotted,” 1605–15 coagulate for def. 1; Middle English < Latin coāgulāt ( us ) (past participle of coāgulāre ), equivalent to coāgul ( um ) coagulum + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Pumpkin and pecan pie are both custards in my book and they should be baked at a lower temperature to gently and evenly coagulate the eggs.

From Salon • Nov. 19, 2024

But anger, irritation and a fear of imminent defeat can coagulate in ways individuals often can't control.

From BBC • May 5, 2023

“I’m very smart. I’m a mathematician by hobby. I coagulate differences between America and other countries. I understand things about the Mafia and simple daily living.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2022

Instead of approaching R&B as a bold exteriorization of the soul, her songs tiptoe inward, toward those quicksand corners of the brain where vivid feelings struggle to coagulate into coherent thoughts.

From Washington Post • Jul. 30, 2021

Paths of feral fire in the coagulate sands.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy