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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of superphosphate

First recorded in 1790–1800; super- + phosphate

Example Sentences

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

From Nature • Oct. 12, 2011

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

From Nature • Oct. 12, 2011

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

From Time Magazine Archive

They include the Thai Nguyen pig-iron plant 50 miles north of Hanoi, the superphosphate plant at Lam Tao, the chemical works at VietTri�all built within the past decade through Russian and Chinese aid.

From Time Magazine Archive

On soils where lime is abundant, superphosphate may be applied, if necessary, at the rate of 2 or 3 cwt. per acre, or bones at a similar rate.

From Manures and the principles of manuring by Aikman, Charles Morton