Main Entry: phos·phor·y·la·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌfäs-ˌfȯr-ə-ˈlā-shən\

Function: noun

: the process of phosphorylating a chemical compound either by reaction with inorganic phosphate or by transfer of phosphate from another organic phosphate ; especially : the enzymatic conversion of carbohydrates into their phosphoric esters in metabolic processes (as the conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate by ATP and hexokinase)