phosphate

American  

[fos-feyt] / ˈfɒs feɪt /

noun

1. Chemistry.

   1. (loosely) a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.

   2. a tertiary salt of orthophosphoric acid, as sodium phosphate.

2. Agriculture. a fertilizing material containing compounds of phosphorus.

3. a carbonated drink of water and fruit syrup containing a little phosphoric acid.

---

phosphate British  

/ ˈfɒsfeɪt, fɒsˈfætɪk /

noun

1. any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid

2. (often plural) any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds

---

phosphate Scientific  

/ fŏs′fāt′ /

1. A salt or ester of phosphoric acid, containing the group PO ₄. Phosphates are important in metabolism and are frequently used in fertilizers.

---

Other Word Forms

• phosphatic adjective
• subphosphate noun

Etymology

Origin of phosphate

First recorded in 1785–95; phosph- + -ate ²

Example Sentences

In a statement to USA Today, Costco explained that it uses carrageenan and sodium phosphate “to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking,” adding that both ingredients are “approved by food safety authorities.”

From Salon

This helps explain why ferrihydrite can attract negatively charged substances like phosphate as well as positively charged metal ions.

From Science Daily

Two California shoppers say Costco mislead customers nationwide by prominently advertising its rotisserie chicken as containing no preservatives, while discreetly listing two added preservatives — sodium phosphate and carrageenan — in fine print in the ingredient list.

From Los Angeles Times

The protein ZAK -- a so-called kinase, that is, an enzyme which activates other molecules by transferring a phosphate group to them -- plays a central role in controlling this stress response.

From Science Daily

The territory is rich in phosphates and home to lucrative fishing grounds.

From Barron's