sulfate

Meanings

Noun

• Any ester of sulfuric acid.
• Any salt of sulfuric acid.

Verb

• To treat something with sulfuric acid, a sulfate, or with sulfur dioxide.
• To accumulate a deposit of lead sulfate.

Origin

• From French sulfate, from New Latin sulphatum, taken from the expression acidum sulphatum, from sulphatus, from Latin sulphur ("sulfur"). The term was first used in 1787 by the French chemist L. B. G. De Morveau. Equivalent of sulfur + -ate.