phosphate
[ fos-feyt ]
/ ˈfɒs feɪt /
noun
Chemistry.
- (loosely) a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
- a tertiary salt of orthophosphoric acid, as sodium phosphate.
Agriculture. a fertilizing material containing compounds of phosphorus.
a carbonated drink of water and fruit syrup containing a little phosphoric acid.
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OTHER WORDS FROM phosphate
sub·phos·phate, nounWords nearby phosphate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for phosphate
British Dictionary definitions for phosphate
phosphate
/ (ˈfɒsfeɪt) /
noun
any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid
(often plural) any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds
Derived forms of phosphate
phosphatic (fɒsˈfætɪk), adjectiveWord Origin for phosphate
C18: from French phosphat; see phosphorus, -ate 1
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medical definitions for phosphate
phosphate
[ fŏs′fāt′ ]
n.
A salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
adj.
Containing the trivalent radical PO4.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for phosphate
phosphate
[ fŏs′fāt′ ]
A salt or ester of phosphoric acid, containing the group PO4. Phosphates are important in metabolism and are frequently used in fertilizers.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.