sulfate
sulfate Lexical Profile
sulfate Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A chemical salt or ester of sulfuric acid containing the divalent anion SO4, widely occurring in nature and used in detergents, fertilizers, and industrial processes.
"Many consumers prefer hair care products formulated without harsh sulfates."
• verb
American To treat, combine, or impregnate a substance with sulfuric acid or a sulfate.
"The laboratory technician had to sulfate the organic compound before analyzing its stability."
American To accumulate a deposit of lead sulfate on the plates of a lead-acid storage battery, reducing its ability to hold a charge.
"A car battery will gradually sulfate if left completely discharged for several months."
Word Nuance & Usage
Spelled 'sulfate' in American English and in official international chemical nomenclature (IUPAC), though 'sulphate' remains common in everyday British English. It should not be confused with 'sulfite' (which contains one less oxygen atom) or 'sulfide' (which contains no oxygen).
• Rhymes for sulfate
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 18th century from French 'sulfate', coined by chemist Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau from Latin 'sulfur' combined with the chemical suffix '-ate'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.