Word
lactate
Phoneticslac·tate
US/ˈɫækteɪt/
UK/lˈækteɪt/
Definition
n. a substance your body produces, especially during hard exercise.
n. any salt or ester of lactic acid; specifically the conjugate base of lactic acid produced during anaerobic metabolism.
Examples
“High levels of lactate in the blood can cause muscle pain.”
“During a sprint, the body produces lactate as a byproduct of energy production when oxygen is low.”
“While once considered a primary cause of muscle fatigue, modern research suggests that lactate serves as an important energy source for the heart and brain during intense physical exertion.”
Examples
simple
“High levels of lactate in the blood can cause muscle pain.”
contextual
“During a sprint, the body produces lactate as a byproduct of energy production when oxygen is low.”
complex
“While once considered a primary cause of muscle fatigue, modern research suggests that lactate serves as an important energy source for the heart and brain during intense physical exertion.”
Usage
Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance in the blood.
Real-World Examples
“Men attempting to lactate to feed a baby is child abuse.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin lactātus, perfect passive participle of lactō (“to suckle, give suck, contain milk”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from lac (“milk”), cognate to Ancient Greek γάλα (gála, “milk”).
From lactic acid + -ate (“salt or ester”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/lactate