coagulate

/kou'ægjuleit/

Thân thiện

The chef watches the sauce coagulate as it cools.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To cause a liquid to change into a soft, semi-solid, or solid mass by a process of thickening or clotting.
2. Verb (intransitive):
   • To change from a liquid state into a soft, semi-solid, or solid mass.

Usage

• As a transitive verb, "coagulate" takes a direct object (e.g., to coagulate blood).
• As an intransitive verb, it describes the process a substance undergoes (e.g., the blood coagulated).
• It is commonly used in scientific, medical, and culinary contexts to describe the solidification of liquids like blood, milk, or egg whites.

Examples

• Transitive verb:
  • The enzyme rennet is used to coagulate milk in the cheese-making process.
  • Heat can coagulate the proteins in an egg.
• Intransitive verb:
  • If you leave the gravy standing too long, it will coagulate.
  • The blood from the cut quickly coagulated, forming a scab.

Advanced Usage

• "Coagulate" as an adjective: While primarily a verb, the past participle "coagulated" is frequently used adjectivally to describe something that has undergone this process.
  • The surgeon removed the coagulated blood clot.
  • Avoid eating coagulated sauce; it doesn't look appetizing.

Variants and Related Words

• Coagulation (noun): The process of coagulating.
  • Blood coagulation is a complex biological process.
• Coagulant (noun): A substance that causes coagulation.
  • Calcium chloride is a common coagulant in food processing.
• Coagulable (adjective): Capable of being coagulated.
  • Not all proteins are coagulable by heat.

Synonyms

• Clot (verb): Especially for blood.
• Curdle (verb): Especially for milk.
• Congeal (verb): To become semi-solid, often due to cooling (e.g., fat, soup).
• Thicken (verb): A more general term for becoming thicker.

Antonyms

• Liquefy (verb): To make or become liquid.
• Dissolve (verb): To become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution.
• Melt (verb): To become liquid, usually by heat.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Make one's blood coagulate": An idiomatic expression meaning to cause extreme fear or horror.
  • The terrifying story was enough to make your blood coagulate.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. transformed from a liquid into a soft semisolid or solid mass
   • coagulated blood
   • curdled milk
   • grumous blood

Verb

1. cause to change from a liquid to a solid or thickened state
2. change from a liquid to a thickened or solid state
   • coagulated blood

Từ đồng nghĩa

• coagulated
• curdled
• grumous
• grumose
• clot