phos·phate
noun/ˈfɒsfeɪt/
/ˈfɑːsfeɪt/
[countable, uncountable] (chemistry)- any compound containing phosphorus, used in industry or for helping plants to grow
磷酸盐；磷酸酯 - phosphate-free washing powder
无磷洗衣粉 - the use of nitrates and phosphates to fertilize the soil
使用硝酸盐和磷酸盐给土壤施肥
Oxford Collocations DictionaryPhosphate is used before these nouns:- fertilizer
Word Originlate 18th cent.: from French, from phosphore ‘phosphorus’. - phosphate-free washing powder