agar plate

noun

plural agar plates
: a usually sterile petri dish filled with a prepared solid growth medium of agar mixed with nutrients
The vector will replicate within the bacteria that are then spread onto the surface of an agar plate.John Goldman

Examples of agar plate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Its discovery was considered accidental; Fleming noticed that fungus growing on an agar plate appeared to be inhibiting the growth of bacteria. Jenny Sweigard, Verywell Health, 16 Nov. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agar plate was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near agar plate

Cite this Entry

“Agar plate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agar%20plate. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

agar plate

noun
: a usually sterile petri dish filled with a prepared solid growth medium of agar mixed with nutrients
The results of this study suggest that immediate inoculation of a swab on an agar plate is necessary to obtain the optimum number of viable colonies.L. Price et al., British Journal of Biomedical Science
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