acidify

verb

acid·​i·​fy ə-ˈsi-də-ˌfī How to pronounce acidify (audio)
a-
acidified; acidifying

transitive verb

1
: to make acid
2
: to convert into an acid
acidification noun

Examples of acidify in a Sentence

Pollution caused the soil to acidify.
Recent Examples on the Web In some locales, acidifying soil is a must, due to high pH water or soil. Marlene Simon, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024 Apply garden sulfur to the soil to acidify it or feed with an acid-forming fertilizer like Espoma Holly-tone. Steve Bender, Southern Living, 25 Jan. 2024 That’s why the oceans have generally been acidifying, as humanity pumps plumes of the gas into the atmosphere. Matt Simon, WIRED, 18 Jan. 2024 As early as 2008, oyster farms experienced mass die offs because baby oysters couldn’t get enough calcium to form shells in acidifying water. Krista Langlois, Outside Online, 10 Mar. 2023 For example, as the oceans acidified, creatures like the foraminifera, which constructed their shells of carbon, would have struggled to survive. WIRED, 28 Sep. 2023 Dog foods formulated for urinary crystals often contain beneficial ingredients like cranberries, which may help acidify urine and discourage crystal formation. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 21 June 2023 To gain insight, scientists have turned to reefs near volcanic gas seeps, where CO2 comes up through the reef floor at spots, naturally acidifying the water there to levels anticipated by 2100. Danielle L. Dixson, Scientific American, 1 June 2017 The underwater eruption near El Hierro superheated the water by as much as 19 °C, reduced the oxygen level, and rapidly acidified the ocean. Chris Baraniuk, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acidify.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acidifier, from acide acid entry 1 + -ifier -ify

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of acidify was in 1782

Dictionary Entries Near acidify

Cite this Entry

“Acidify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acidify. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acidify

verb
acid·​i·​fy ə-ˈsid-ə-ˌfī How to pronounce acidify (audio)
acidified; acidifying
1
: to make acid
2
: to change into an acid
acidification noun

Medical Definition

acidify

verb
acid·​i·​fy -ə-ˌfī How to pronounce acidify (audio)
acidified; acidifying

transitive verb

1
: to make acid
2
: to convert into an acid

intransitive verb

: to become acid
acidifiable adjective
acidification noun

More from Merriam-Webster on acidify

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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