coagulate

[ verb koh-ag-yuh-leyt; adjective koh-ag-yuh-lit, -leyt ]

verb (used with or without object)

, co·ag·u·lat·ed, co·ag·u·lat·ing.

1. to change from a fluid into a thickened mass; curdle; congeal:

   Let the pudding stand two hours until it coagulates.

   Synonyms: thicken, solidify, set, clot

2. Biology. (of blood) to form a clot.
3. Physical Chemistry. (of colloidal particles) to flocculate or cause to flocculate by adding an electrolyte to an electrostatic colloid.

adjective

1. Obsolete. coagulated.

coagulate

/ kəʊˈæɡjʊlətɪv /

verb

1. to cause (a fluid, such as blood) to change into a soft semisolid mass or (of such a fluid) to change into such a mass; clot; curdle
2. chem to separate or cause to separate into distinct constituent phases

noun

1. the solid or semisolid substance produced by coagulation

Derived Forms

• coˌagulaˈbility, noun
• coˈagulable, adjective
• coagulative, adjective
• coˌaguˈlation, noun

Other Words From

• co·agu·lation noun
• co·ag·u·la·to·ry [koh-, ag, -y, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], co·ag·u·la·tive [koh-, ag, -y, uh, -ley-tiv, -l, uh, -tiv], adjective
• anti·co·agu·lating adjective
• anti·co·agu·lation noun adjective
• nonco·agu·lating adjective
• nonco·agu·lation noun
• nonco·agu·lative adjective
• reco·agu·late verb recoagulated recoagulating
• reco·agu·lation noun
• unco·agu·lated adjective
• unco·agu·lating adjective
• unco·agu·lative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of coagulate¹

1350–1400 for earlier past participle senses “solidified, clotted,” 1605–15 coagulate fordef 1; Middle English < Latin coāgulāt ( us ) (past participle of coāgulāre ), equivalent to coāgul ( um ) coagulum + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of coagulate¹

C16: from Latin coāgulāre to make (a liquid) curdle, from coāgulum rennet, from cōgere to drive together

Example Sentences

Rennet, an enzyme naturally present in the stomachs of ruminants, would prompt the milk to coagulate, separating into curds and whey, thus laying the groundwork for modern cheese production.

From Salon

If the already bleak mood among Tory MPs is going to coagulate into action - an attempt to topple him - it is perhaps most likely to happen then.

From BBC

This is in part thanks to the lack of moisture as stated above, as when proteins lack moisture, they can coagulate more easily due to the reduction of sugar and the denaturing of protein when it hits heat.

From Salon

But none has enough gravity to coagulate into a larger planet.

From Salon

GMO microbial rennet produces a specific enzyme called chymosin, which helps coagulate milk and form curds.

From Salon