acidify

verb
acid·​i·​fy | \ -ˌfī How to pronounce acidify (audio) \
acidified; acidifying

Definition of acidify

transitive verb

1 : to make acid
2 : to convert into an acid

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Other Words from acidify

acidification \ -​ˌsi-​də-​fə-​ˈkā-​shən How to pronounce acidification (audio) \ noun

Examples of acidify in a Sentence

Pollution caused the soil to acidify.

Recent Examples on the Web

Oceans acidify in the blink of a geologic eye In the late 1700s, the oceans had equilibrated to be slightly alkaline, with a pH of about 8.1—roughly the same level of acidity as an egg white. Alejandra Borunda, National Geographic, "Ocean acidification, explained," 7 Aug. 2019 But reefs are imperiled by a range of threats including warming waters, acidifying seas, destructive fishing methods, and agricultural and other runoff. Paul Tullis, New York Times, "To Map a Coral Reef, Peel Back the Seawater," 10 June 2019 Vinegar over time can seriously acidify the soil for all the plants, so a lot depends on how often and how strong. oregonlive.com, "Ask an Expert: Remove sunburned plums now for a better harvest later," 28 June 2019 The Bureau of Intelligence and Research's 12-page prepared testimony, reviewed by The Washington Post, includes a detailed description of how rising greenhouse gas emissions are raising global temperatures and acidifying the world's oceans. nola.com, "White House blocks intelligence agency’s written warning on climate change," 8 June 2019 The Bureau of Intelligence and Research's 12-page prepared testimony, reviewed by The Washington Post, includes a detailed description of how rising greenhouse gas emissions are raising global temperatures and acidifying the world's oceans. Author: Juliet Eilperin, Josh Dawsey, Brady Dennis, Anchorage Daily News, "White House blocked intelligence agency’s written testimony on climate change," 8 June 2019 Large conifer trees cast shade, acidify the soil and spread incredibly dense root systems across the landscape. Colin Mccrate, The Seattle Times, "Our native evergreen huckleberry brings dynamic color and oodles of fruit to your edible shade garden," 20 Feb. 2019 And a lot of foods are acidified to have a longer shelf life. Naseem S. Miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Your child's runny nose may be because of acid reflux," 30 May 2018 The increased carbon dioxide that humanity has been relentlessly pumping into the air since the onset of the Industrial Revolution is acidifying the oceans. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, "Herring could actually benefit from ocean acidification," 25 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acidify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of acidify

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for acidify

borrowed from French acidifier, from acide acid entry 1 + -ifier -ify

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More Definitions for acidify

acidify

verb

English Language Learners Definition of acidify

technical : to cause (something) to become acidic

acidify

verb
acid·​i·​fy | \ -ə-ˌfī How to pronounce acidify (audio) \
acidified; acidifying

Medical Definition of acidify

transitive verb

1 : to make acid
2 : to convert into an acid

intransitive verb

: to become acid

Other Words from acidify

acidifiable \ ə-​ˌsid-​ə-​ˈfī-​ə-​bəl, a-​ How to pronounce acidifiable (audio) \ adjective
acidification \ -​fə-​ˈkā-​shən How to pronounce acidification (audio) \ noun
acidifier \ ə-​ˈsid-​ə-​ˌfī(-​ə)r, a-​ How to pronounce acidifier (audio) \ noun