flocculate

[flok-yuh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

flocculated, flocculating 

1. to form into flocculent masses.

verb (used without object)

flocculated, flocculating 

1. to form flocculent masses, as a cloud or a chemical precipitate; form aggregated or compound masses of particles.

flocculate

/ ˈflɒkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. to form or be formed into an aggregated flocculent mass

Other Word Forms

• flocculable adjective
• flocculation noun
• flocculator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of flocculate¹

First recorded in 1820–30; floccul(us) + -ate ¹

Example Sentences

“The art, of course, is to have a large percentage of oil-producing algae and a very small percentage of those flocculating algae.”

From Forbes

But we must conclude as most probable that some action is at work in the sea water and in the salt solutions which clumps or flocculates the sediment.

From Project Gutenberg

In many cases, lime is very beneficial to land, usually because it corrects acidity and has a mechanical effect in pulverizing and flocculating clay and in cementing sands.

From Project Gutenberg

The washing would be very likely to have a decided flocculating effect and so render this material more friable when applied to the field.

From Project Gutenberg