one of the various forms of a salt of phosphorus often used in industry

a substance containing a phosphate used for making plants grow better

a chemical compound that contains phosphorus

a chemical compound (= substance consisting of at least two elements) that contains phosphorus

The second interferon-induced enzyme adds a phosphate group to a protein that is essential for the synthesis of new proteins to begin.

The algae feeds on nitrogen and phosphates which come into the water from agriculture and sewage.

Conversely potassium and phosphate are the principal intracellular cations and anions respectively.

Intravenous phosphate has been recommended for lowering the serum calcium when other measures have failed.

The repressor also recognizes sequence-dependent distortion or flexibility of the operator phosphate backbone conferring specificity even for inaccessible base pairs.

Obviously careful monitoring of the serum phosphate level is appropriate.

The problem had hit Britain now because we were feeding the algae with phosphates and nitrates and causing blooms.

When cleaned non-ferrous metals are best brought to a bright finish before priming with zinc chromate or zinc phosphate.