organophosphate

[awr-guh-noh-fos-feyt, awr-gan-uh‐]

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.

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. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for organophosphate

organophosphate

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

organophosphate in Medicine

organophosphate

[ôr′găn′ə-fŏs′fāt]

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