phosphate
Chemistry.
(loosely) a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
a tertiary salt of orthophosphoric acid, as sodium phosphate.
Agriculture. a fertilizing material containing compounds of phosphorus.
a carbonated drink of water and fruit syrup containing a little phosphoric acid.
Origin of phosphate
1Other words from phosphate
- sub·phos·phate, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for phosphate
/ (ˈfɒsfeɪt) /
any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid
(often plural) any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds
Origin of phosphate
1Derived forms of phosphate
- phosphatic (fɒsˈfætɪk), adjective
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 phosphate
[ fŏs′fāt′ ]
A salt or ester of phosphoric acid, containing the group PO4. Phosphates are important in metabolism and are frequently used in fertilizers.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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