formate

noun

for·​mate ˈfȯr-ˌmāt How to pronounce formate (audio)
: a salt or ester of formic acid

Examples of formate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Formic acid and formate can also reduce the pH level of blood, harming tissue throughout the body and leading to organ failure. Katherine Hignett, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 However, methanol becomes formaldehyde—a cancer-causing chemical used in industrial glues and embalming corpses—and formate, or formic acid, which is a strong and toxic acid. Matt Robison, Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2024 But if that is the case, why didn't the lead formate disappear in The Night Watch? Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 July 2024 Continued abiotic reactions with formate could produce larger organic compounds like amino acids, which can be strung together into molecules essential for life, such as enzymes and other proteins. Quanta Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 This revealed the presence of the lead formates—surprising in itself, but the team also identified those formates in areas where there was no lead pigment, white, or yellow. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Dec. 2023 Early analyses also suggest that the small organic acid formate is present in the borehole water. Quanta Magazine, 4 Jan. 2024 Then the researchers evaporate the liquid under sunlight, leaving solid formate crystals, which are easy to store. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Nov. 2023 The collaborative shoe collection features the RS-XL, which comes in three versions of a different mixtape formate—cassettes, CD, and playlists. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 14 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of formate was in 1807

Dictionary Entries Near formate

Cite this Entry

“Formate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/formate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

formate

noun
for·​mate ˈfȯ(ə)r-ˌmāt How to pronounce formate (audio)
: a salt or ester of formic acid
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!