organophosphate

[ awr-guh-noh-fos-feyt, awr-gan-uh‐ ]

/ ˌɔr gə noʊˈfɒs feɪt, ɔrˌgæn ə‐ /

noun

Biochemistry. any of a variety of organic compounds that contain phosphorus and often have intense neurotoxic activity: originally developed as nerve gases, now widely used as insecticides and fire retardants.

Words nearby organophosphate

organomagnesium, organomegaly, organomercurial, organometallic, organon, organophosphate, organosilicon, organosiloxane, organotherapy, organotin, organotrophic

Origin of organophosphate

First recorded in 1945–50; organo- + phosphate

Also called or·ga·no·phos·pho·rus com·pounds

[awr-guh-noh-fos-fer-uh s, awr-gan-uh‐] /ˌɔr gə noʊˈfɒs fər əs, ɔrˌgæn ə‐/.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for organophosphate

organophosphate

/ (ɔːˌɡænəʊˈfɒsfeɪt) /

noun

any of a group of organic compounds containing phosphate groups and used as a pesticide

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

Medicine definitions for organophosphate

organophosphate

[ ôr′găn′ə-fŏs′fāt ]

n.

Any of several organic compounds containing phosphorus, some of which are used as fertilizers and pesticides.