lactate

1 of 2

noun

lac·​tate ˈlak-ˌtāt How to pronounce lactate (audio)
: a salt or ester of lactic acid

lactate

2 of 2

verb

lactated; lactating

intransitive verb

: to secrete milk

Examples of lactate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Traditionally, lactate threshold has been a critical measure of athletic performance by pinpointing exercise intensity when lactate starts to rise in muscles and blood. Travis Nemkov, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024 Tempo runs are slightly more intense efforts than steady-state runs, and they’re run right at the lactate threshold. Greg McMillan, Outside Online, 25 Jan. 2022 As are deeper metrics like lactate threshold/FTP, which simply don’t exist on Apple Watches (or any other wearables). Corey Gaskin, Ars Technica, 25 Mar. 2023 Dutch scientists encapsulated Bacillus bacteria, which can survive for decades without food or water, in biodegradable plastic with calcium lactate as a food source. Chris Holt, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2021 A little more processing resulted in potassium lactate, which is added to a variety of foods as a preservative. Sophie Bushwick, Scientific American, 26 Aug. 2022 Proponents of the Norwegian training model that’s currently in vogue might argue that a lactate meter fits the bill. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 22 Mar. 2023 Calcium lactate is a mineral supplement used to treat or prevent calcium deficiency. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 4 Dec. 2022 On top of that, most studies used magnesium lactate or magnesium oxide supplements, which may also minimize symptoms of anxiety, according to the 2017 review. Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 3 Sep. 2023
Verb
The new federal order, which requires testing all lactating cows before moving across states, will aid the disease investigation. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 26 Apr. 2024 The agency is also asking—but not requiring—that farmers submit milk from lactating cattle and nasal swabs from non-lactating cattle who become sick to the National Animal Health Laboratory Network for testing. Alice Park, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024 Pregnant or lactating people: Multivitamins during pregnancy are effective in helping reduce the risk of birth defects and other negative birth outcomes and can help lactating women achieve their higher nutrient needs while breastfeeding. Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 23 Apr. 2024 California bans the feeding of poultry litter to lactating dairy cows. Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2024 Diamond started lactating shortly after her sister Erica gave birth and helped her nurse the pups; now the adult dogs are looking for a home together Two canine sisters are looking for a home of their own after raising a family together. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024 For women who are lactating, the RDA is 9 milligrams per day. Casey Seiden, Parents, 26 Feb. 2024 Moving from breast milk to blood serum would allow people of any age and reproductive status to be screened for the disease, rather than just those who are lactating. Danielle Whitham, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024 At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, French lactating parents will—finally—get just that. Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lactate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin lactatus, past participle of lactare, from lact-, lac

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1794, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lactate was circa 1794

Dictionary Entries Near lactate

Cite this Entry

“Lactate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lactate. Accessed 1 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

lactate

verb
lac·​tate
ˈlak-ˌtāt
lactated; lactating
: to give off milk
lactation
lak-ˈtā-shən
noun

Medical Definition

lactate

1 of 2 noun
lac·​tate ˈlak-ˌtāt How to pronounce lactate (audio)
: a salt or ester of lactic acid

lactate

2 of 2 intransitive verb
lactated; lactating
: to secrete milk

More from Merriam-Webster on lactate

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