Definition

To add fluorine to a substance or compound, often to change its properties or enhance its performance.

Example

The chemist decided to fluorinate the compound to improve its stability.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you heard about the new method to fluorinate certain compounds?

Yeah, I read about it! It sounds really interesting.

I wonder what the benefits of fluorinate treatments are for those materials.

They say it can improve their stability and resistance to heat.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Fluorinate → It is formed from "fluor" (from Latin "fluor", meaning to flow) and "-inate" (a suffix used to form verbs indicating to cause or to make). The word "fluorinate" means to cause a substance to combine with fluorine or to treat with fluorine.

Memory Tip

Think of 'fluor' meaning to 'flow' and the '-inate' indicating to 'make' — so fluorinate means to make something flow with fluorine.

Visually Confused Words