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 The coating is made in part with alginate which is derived from seaweed but don’t fear, there won’t be any oceanic flavor in your cup. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 14 Mar. 2024 Seeing these discouraging results, Woodruff and colleague Lonnie Shea, a materials scientist, suggested suspending individual immature follicles in tiny beads of alginate, a substance derived from brown algae and commonly used as an ice cream thickener. Katherine Kornei, Discover Magazine, 27 July 2016 This contains a few unique thickeners and preservatives, like sodium alginate and sorbic acid, to keep it squeezable. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 5 Oct. 2023 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

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 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

alginate

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

More from Merriam-Webster on alginate

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