hydrate
UK: ˈhaɪdreɪt | US: ˈhaɪdreɪt
n. a compound containing water molecules
vt. to cause something to absorb water
vi. to combine chemically with water
The word "hydrate" originates from the Greek root "hydr-" (ὕδωρ, meaning "water"), combined with the suffix "-ate," which often forms verbs or nouns in scientific terminology. The term reflects the chemical process of combining with water, a concept central to fields like chemistry and biology. Over time, "hydrate" evolved to describe both the compound (noun) and the action (verb) of water absorption.
This mineral is a hydrate, containing trapped water molecules.
Doctors advise patients to hydrate well before surgery.
The compound will hydrate when exposed to moisture.
Athletes must hydrate frequently during intense training.
The lab experiment demonstrated how salts hydrate under specific conditions.