sulfate

[ suhl-feyt ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a salt or ester of sulfuric acid.

verb (used with object)

, sul·fat·ed, sul·fat·ing.

1. to combine, treat, or impregnate with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or sulfates.
2. to convert into a sulfate.
3. Electricity. to form a deposit of lead-sulfate compound on (the lead electrodes of a storage battery).

verb (used without object)

, sul·fat·ed, sul·fat·ing.

1. to become sulfated.

sulfate

/ sŭl′fāt′ /

1. A salt or ester of sulfuric acid, containing the group SO 4 .

Other Words From

• sul·fation noun
• super·sulfate noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulfate¹

From the New Latin word sulphātum, dating back to 1780–90. See sulfur, -ate ²

Example Sentences

The researchers note that the only way to prevent additional wildfires when cleaning up reflective sulfate air pollution is to simultaneously reduce emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

From Science Daily

Because aerosol particles like sulfate and their precursors like sulfur dioxide reflect sunlight and help make clouds brighter, removing them means more of the sun's heat hits the ground.

From Science Daily

The researchers theorize that the permafrost has started to thaw due to these developments, causing orange streams that have lower pH and higher concentrations of iron, sulfate and trace metals.

From Salon

Regulators suspect a significant portion of Stauffer’s waste is alum mud, a radioactive sludge that is a byproduct of producing aluminum sulfate.

From Los Angeles Times

Silverwood Lake was treated with copper sulfate on Tuesday in an effort to control the algal bloom, agency officials said.

From Los Angeles Times