phorate

[fawr-eyt, fohr-]

noun Chemistry.

a systemic insecticide, C7H17O2PS3, used especially as a soil treatment for the control of numerous crop-damaging insects.

Origin of phorate

1955–60; probably by shortening of the name of one of its chemical components, (phos)phor(odithio)ate; see phosphoro-, dithionous, -ate²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018