phosphate

[fos-feyt] /ˈfɒs feɪt/
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.
Origin
1785-95; phosph- + -ate2
Related forms
subphosphate, noun
Examples from the web for phosphate
  • For example, some scientists have fretted over the world's limited supplies of rock phosphate, which is used in agriculture.
  • To make the droplets stable, phosphate is added to the emulsion.
  • It may be light, or a familiar nutrient such as nitrate or phosphate.
  • They heated it, added oxygen and calcium, then applied more heat and a phosphate solution.
  • They used acetic acid to dissolve the limestone, which leaves behind a residue of fossils preserved by calcium phosphate minerals.
  • Even the animals' soft tissues, cast in calcium phosphate, are clearly defined.
  • The authors state that calcium carbonate-phosphate mixtures are rather sticky.
  • No doubt, he said, you think you can make good the loss with phosphate rocks.
  • When a current runs through an electrode, phosphate and cobalt in the water form a thin film on that electrode.
  • Lithium phosphate or polymer is the best one can get for now.
British Dictionary definitions for phosphate

phosphate

/ˈfɒsfeɪt/
noun
1.
any salt or ester of any phosphoric acid, esp a salt of orthophosphoric acid
2.
(often pl) any of several chemical fertilizers containing phosphorous compounds
Derived Forms
phosphatic (fɒsˈfætɪk) adjective
Word Origin
C18: from French phosphat; see phosphorus,-ate1
Word Origin and History for phosphate
n.

a salt of phosphoric acid, 1795, from French phosphate (1787), from phosphore (see phosphorus) + -ate (3).

phosphate in Medicine

phosphate phos·phate (fŏs'fāt')
n.
A salt or an ester of phosphoric acid. adj.
Containing the trivalent radical PO4.

phosphate in Science
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.