phosphatize

especially British, phos·pha·tise

[fos-fuh-tahyz]

verb (used with object)

phosphatized, phosphatizing 

1. to treat with phosphates.

2. to change to phosphate.

phosphatize

/ ˈfɒsfəˌtaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to treat with a phosphate or phosphates, as by applying a fertilizer

2. to change or be changed into a phosphate

Other Word Forms

• phosphatization noun
• phosphation noun
• unphosphatized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphatize¹

First recorded in 1880–85; phosphate + -ize

Example Sentences

But he says that just because biofilm bacteria can phosphatize embryos but not , that doesn't mean the fossils formed through this process.

From Science Magazine