flocculate

American  

[flok-yuh-leyt] / ˈflɒk jəˌleɪt /

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 British  

/ ˈflɒkjʊˌleɪt /

verb

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

---

Other Word Forms

• flocculation
  noun
• flocculator
  noun
• flocculable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of flocculate

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

flocculated flocculating

Despite the presence of the flocculated organic matter, satisfactory purification was obtained with 0.5 to 1.0 p.p.m. of available chlorine and no taste or odour was imparted to the supply.

From Chlorination of Water by Race, Joseph

Small flocculated particles of rubber may pass, or be rubbed through, the strainer.

From The Preparation of Plantation Rubber by Morgan, Sidney

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 Manual of Gardening (Second Edition) by Bailey, L. H. (Liberty Hyde)

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 Farmers of Forty Centuries; Or, Permanent Agriculture in China, Korea, and Japan by King, F. H. (Franklin Hiram)