hydrogenate

[ hahy-druh-juh-neyt, hahy-droj-uh- ]

verb (used with object)

, hy·dro·gen·at·ed, hy·dro·gen·at·ing.

1. to combine or treat with hydrogen, especially to add hydrogen to the molecule of (an unsaturated organic compound).

hydrogenate

/ haɪˈdrɒdʒɪˌneɪt; ˈhaɪdrədʒɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo a reaction with hydrogen

   to hydrogenate ethylene

hydrogenate

/ hī′drə-jə-nāt′,hī-drŏj′ə-nāt′ /

1. To treat or combine chemically an unsaturated compound with hydrogen. Liquid vegetable oils are often hydrogenated to turn them into solids.
2. To turn coal into oil by combining its carbon with hydrogen to form hydrocarbons.

Derived Forms

• ˈhydrogenˌator, noun
• ˌhydrogenˈation, noun

Other Words From

• hydro·gen·ation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrogenate¹

First recorded in 1800–10; hydrogen + -ate ¹