phosphate
Americannoun
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Chemistry.
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(loosely) a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
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a tertiary salt of orthophosphoric acid, as sodium phosphate.
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Agriculture. a fertilizing material containing compounds of phosphorus.
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a carbonated drink of water and fruit syrup containing a little phosphoric acid.
noun
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any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid
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(often plural) any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of phosphate
Vocabulary lists containing phosphate
Pacific Islands - Introductory
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Pacific Islands - Middle School and High School
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Spelling Practice 2, Unit 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Phosphate mining and processing remain one of Tunisia's main natural resources.
From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025
Phosphate forms the "backbone" of RNA and DNA and is also a key component of cell membranes.
From Science Daily • Jan. 22, 2024
Phosphate colludes with lipid molecules to encase every cell in an ever vigilant membrane that dictates what gets in and what must be kept out.
From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2022
Phosphate mining is a powerful economic and political force in Florida.
From Salon • Apr. 20, 2022
Spanish apatite contains— Water 0·80 Phosphate of lime 93·30 Carbonate of lime 0·50 Chlorine, etc. traces Sand 4·70 ——— 99·30 Several other varieties of mineral phosphates have been imported under the name of guano.
From Elements of Agricultural Chemistry by Anderson, Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
