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superphosphate

American  
[soo-per-fos-feyt] / ˌsu pərˈfɒs feɪt /

noun

Chemistry.
  1. Also called acid phosphate.  a mixture of calcium acid phosphate and calcium sulfate prepared by treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid: used chiefly as a fertilizer.

  2. Also called triple superphosphate.  a mixture prepared with phosphoric acid and containing about 45 percent of soluble phosphates, used as a fertilizer.


superphosphate British  
/ ˌsuːpəˈfɒsfeɪt /

noun

  1. a mixture of the diacid calcium salt of orthophosphoric acid Ca(H 2 PO 4 ) 2 with calcium sulphate and small quantities of other phosphates: used as a fertilizer

  2. a salt of phosphoric acid formed by incompletely replacing its acidic hydrogen atoms; acid phosphate; hydrogen phosphate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of superphosphate

First recorded in 1790–1800; super- + phosphate

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.

See Examples For:

The computer is telling me that an application of superphosphate between crops would be advantageous.”

From Nature Oct. 12, 2011

Do you have any idea how much aerial topdressing with superphosphate costs?

From Nature Oct. 12, 2011

The Vinh-yen and Phutho plants produce superphosphate fertilizers essential to Ho's farms.

From Time Magazine Archive

A change which is apt to take place in superphosphate after its manufacture is what is known as reversion of the soluble phosphate.

From Manures and the principles of manuring by Charles Morton Aikman

Sulphuric acid converts the phosphate rock into superphosphate, which is soluble and available for plant use.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by C. K. (Charles Kenneth) Leith

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