I. noun
or sul·phate ˈsəlˌfāt, usu -ād.+V
( -s )
Etymology: sulfate from French, from Latin sulfur + French -ate; sulphate modification (influenced by sulphur ) of French sulfate
: a salt or ester of sulfuric acid of which most of the salts except those of barium, lead, strontium, and calcium are fairly soluble in water
II. verb
or sulphate “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to treat or combine with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or a related agent : convert into a sulfate ; especially : to convert (an organic compound) into a sulfuric monoester containing the acid group−OSO 2 OH
sulfated alcohols are important anionic detergents
— compare sulfonate
2. : to form a deposit of a whitish scale of lead sulfate on (the plates of a storage battery)
intransitive verb
: to become sulfated