alginate

noun

al·​gi·​nate ˈal-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce alginate (audio)
: a salt or ester of alginic acid

Examples of alginate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Give me back the days when Hollywood melted Nazi skulls the way God intended — with alginate and red gelatin. Vulture, 30 June 2023 By encapsulating the follicles in the alginate and providing the growing cells with precise mixtures of nutrients and hormones, researchers at the ONPRC and elsewhere have been able to mimic the ovary’s natural structure in the laboratory. Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016 An individual bacterium can produce only so much enzyme; breaking down alginate goes much more quickly when Vibrio can cluster together. Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022 It’s wrapped in a special, non-woven fabric and coated with a substance called alginate, which is made from algae and used often in the medical field. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 10 Apr. 2023 Calcium promotes the solidification of alginate networks. Science & Food, Discover Magazine, 11 June 2013 Ionic bonds are very flexible, while covalent bonds are very strong, and both have their roles to play: When the ball hits the gel, the alginate molecules separate, like two magnets forced apart, absorbing stress. Ashley P. Taylor, Discover Magazine, 7 Sep. 2012 Red algae is chock-full of a carotenoid called astaxanthin, while its brown cousin is rich in skin-brightening phlorotannins and a moisturizing polysaccharide called alginate. Brian Underwood, Women's Health, 15 Feb. 2023 By altering their life cycle to include a multicellular stage, the bacteria can digest the alginate efficiently: Their numbers increase, and the hollow shell helps to concentrate the enzymes. Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alginate.' 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

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alginate was circa 1909

Dictionary Entries Near alginate

Cite this Entry

“Alginate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alginate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2023.

Medical Definition

alginate

noun
al·​gi·​nate ˈal-jə-ˌnāt How to pronounce alginate (audio)
: a salt of alginic acid

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