# lactate

/ˈɫækteɪt/ (US) · /lˈækteɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lactate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. a chemical in the body

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Academic

a substance your body produces, especially during hard exercise.

For teachers: any salt or ester of lactic acid; specifically the conjugate base of lactic acid produced during anaerobic metabolism.

- Athletes often monitor their lactate levels to see how hard they are training.
- During high-intensity interval training, the accumulation of blood lactate can serve as a marker for the anaerobic threshold.

Usage: Usually treated as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance in the blood.

## 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.