agar
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.
Biology. a culture medium having an agar base.
Origin of agar
1Other definitions for Agar (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for agar
/ (ˈeɪɡə) /
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
1Collins 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
[ ā′gär′, ä′gär′ ]
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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