Definition of: sulfate

(sul′fāt) noun Chem.
A salt of sulfuric acid. Sulfates are widely distributed in nature and are important in the arts and in medicine.
—v. ·fat·ed, ·fat·ing v.t.
1. To form a sulfate of; treat with a sulfate or sulfuric acid.
2. Electr. To form a coating of lead sulfate on (the plate of a secondary battery).
3. To make (red lead) into lead sulfate by the action of sulfuric acid.
—v.i.
4. To become sulfated. Also sul′phate. [<F <NL sulfas, -atis a sulfate <L sulfur sulfur]