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phosphate

[ fos-feyt ]

noun

  1. Chemistry.
    1. (loosely) a salt or ester of phosphoric acid.
    2. a tertiary salt of orthophosphoric acid, as sodium phosphate.
  2. Agriculture. a fertilizing material containing compounds of phosphorus.
  3. a carbonated drink of water and fruit syrup containing a little phosphoric acid.


phosphate

/ ˈfɒsfeɪt; fɒsˈfætɪk /

noun

  1. any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid
  2. often plural any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds
“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

phosphate

  1. A salt or ester of phosphoric acid, containing the group PO 4 . Phosphates are important in metabolism and are frequently used in fertilizers.
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Derived Forms

  • phosphatic, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲ·Dzp󲹳ٱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphate1

First recorded in 1785–95; phosph- + -ate 2
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Word History and Origins

Origin of phosphate1

C18: from French phosphat; see phosphorus , -ate 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The FDA is instead encouraging the use of so-called natural food dyes such as gardenia blue and calcium phosphate.

From

When it rains after a fire, the newly bare soil and the phosphates that were trapped inside it can wash off into streams and rivers, affecting water quality.

From

For example, they found that when an insulin receptor experiences decreased mobility, it acts less efficiently on IRS1, a molecule to which it usually adds a phosphate group.

From

Instead of using silver electrodes, they use electrodes made from iron phosphate, a common electrode material in lithium batteries.

From

Twenty-two of the state's 25 phosphate waste piles, several owned by industry powerhouse Mosaic, were in Milton's path.

From

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phosphatasephosphate group