Definition

A chemical compound that is a salt or ester derived from citric acid, often used in food and beverages as a preservative or flavoring agent.

Example

The beverage contained citrate to enhance its flavor and preserve freshness.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of citrate?

Yeah, isn’t it related to citric acid?

Exactly! It’s a salt or ester of citric acid.

That's interesting; I didn’t know it had that connection.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Citrate → It is formed from "citric" (from Latin *citrus*, meaning lemon or citrus fruit) and the suffix "-ate" (indicating a salt or ester of an acid). The word "citrate" refers to a salt or ester derived from citric acid, which is found in citrus fruits.

Memory Tip

Think of 'citrus' as the source of citric acid, and remember that 'citrate' is a compound related to that acid, like a salt or ester from citrus.

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