Flocculate

Quick meaning: Flocculate is a verb meaning (ambitransitive) To collect (suspended particles, sediment, etc.) into loose, fluffy aggregations resembling tufts of wool.

Meaning

(ambitransitive) To collect (suspended particles, sediment, etc.) into loose, fluffy aggregations resembling tufts of wool.

More Meanings

1. Having flock form or forms.
2. A mass that has suffered flocculation.

Example Sentences

When applied to clay soils it [lime] binds the small particles together, or flocculates them.

For example, when the Mississippi water flows into the saline water of the Gulf of Mexico, much of the matter that was held suspended in the river-water is flocculated at once, so that it can subside. Such action as this is one prime cause of the formation of deltas, for the flocculation of fine mud by salt is common to all rivers that reach the sea.

Word Forms

• flocculates
• flocculating
• flocculated

Synonyms for flocculate

Depending on context, synonyms include floccular, flocculated, flocculent.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include flock, clump, agglomerate, pack, clod, tuft.

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