triturate

C2 Topic:Science & Research

US /ˈtrɪtʃəˌreɪt/ UK /ˈtrɪtʃəreɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #637260

Meanings

1

verb
to crush, rub, or grind a substance thoroughly into fine particles or powder

The technician used a mortar and pestle to triturate the mineral sample.
2

verb
in laboratory work, to mix solids by repeated grinding or to separate biological tissue into cells by mechanical action

The protocol instructs researchers to triturate the tissue gently in the culture medium.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to crush, rub, or grind a... pulverize grindcomminute

2 verb · in laboratory work, to mix... grind togetherdisaggregate

Opposites

coalesce consolidate

Word family

Forms triturated

Derived forms trituratedtriturationtrituratortriturable

Related forms mortar and pestlecomminutionpulverization

Etymology

From Late Latin triturare, 'thresh or rub down,' based on Latin tritura, 'threshing or rubbing,' and tritus, 'rubbed.' Scientific and pharmaceutical use narrowed the action to thorough grinding, pulverizing, or mechanical separation.

Topics

Science & Research

External links

# triturate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈtrɪtʃəˌreɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈtrɪtʃəreɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 637260

## Meanings
1. to crush, rub, or grind a substance thoroughly into fine particles or powder
2. in laboratory work, to mix solids by repeated grinding or to separate biological tissue into cells by mechanical action

## Examples
- The technician used a mortar and pestle to triturate the mineral sample.
- The protocol instructs researchers to triturate the tissue gently in the culture medium.

## Synonyms
- pulverize
- grind
- comminute
- disaggregate

## Antonyms
- coalesce
- consolidate

## Derived Forms
- triturated
- trituration
- triturator
- triturable

## Related Forms
- mortar and pestle
- comminution
- pulverization

## Etymology
From Late Latin triturare, 'thresh or rub down,' based on Latin tritura, 'threshing or rubbing,' and tritus, 'rubbed.' Scientific and pharmaceutical use narrowed the action to thorough grinding, pulverizing, or mechanical separation.

## Topics
- Science & Research

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