PHOSPHATE

noun Etymology: French, from acide phosphorique phosphoric acid Date: 1788 1. a. a salt or ester of a phosphoric acid, the trivalent anion PO 4 3- derived from phosphoric acid H 3 PO 4 , an organic compound of phosphoric acid in which the acid group is bound to nitrogen or a carboxyl group in a way that permits useful energy to be released (as in metabolism), an effervescent drink of carbonated water with a small amount of phosphoric acid flavored with fruit syrup, a phosphatic material used for fertilizers