agar

[ ah-gahr, ag-er ]

noun
  1. Also agar-agar. Also called Chinese gelatin, Chi·nese i·sin·glass [chahy-neez ahy-zuhn-glas, ahy-zing-, chahy-nees], /ˈtʃaɪ niz ˈaɪ zənˌglæs, ˈaɪ zɪŋ-, ˈtʃaɪ nis/, Japanese gelatin, Jap·a·nese i·sin·glass [jap-uh-neez ahy-zuhn-glas, ahy-zing-, jap-uh-nees] /ˈdʒæp ə niz ˈaɪ zənˌglæs, ˈaɪ zɪŋ-, ˈdʒæp ə nis/ . a gelatinlike product of certain seaweeds, used for solidifying certain culture media, as a thickening agent for ice cream and other foods, as a substitute for gelatin, in adhesives, as an emulsifier, etc.

  2. Biology. a culture medium having an agar base.

Origin of agar

1
First recorded in 1885–90, agar is from the Malay word agaragar seaweed from which a gelatin is rendered, or the gelatin itself

Other definitions for Agar (2 of 2)

Agar
[ ey-gahr ]

nounDouay Bible.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for agar

agar

/ (ˈeɪɡə) /


noun
  1. a complex gelatinous carbohydrate obtained from seaweeds, esp those of the genus Gelidium, used as a culture medium for bacteria, a laxative, in food such as ice cream as a thickening agent (E406), etc: Also called: agar-agar

Origin of agar

1
C19: Malay

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

Scientific definitions for agar

agar

[ āgär′, ägär′ ]


  1. A gelatinous material obtained from marine algae, especially seaweed, used as a medium for growing bacterial cultures in the laboratory and as a thickener and stabilizer in food products.

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