noun
hydrate
heye-DRAYT
noun
1
A chemical compound that has water molecules bound into its structure.
"Copper sulfate hydrate turns blue when it absorbs water."
verb
1
To supply the body (or a substance) with water.
"Athletes are told to hydrate well before a race."
"The moisturiser is designed to hydrate dry skin."
How to Use Hydrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take in water, or a compound that has water chemically bound within it.
Common mistake
In everyday speech "hydrate" just means "drink water," but in chemistry it specifically means water molecules are bonded into the structure of a compound.
Common pairings
hydrate the skin
stay hydrated
hydrate before exercise
Word Forms
hydrated past tense, hydrates plural, hydrates singular
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Copper sulfate _____ turns blue when it absorbs water.
Etymology
From French hydrate, built from the Greek word hydor ("water") plus the chemical suffix "-ate."