methylate

English

Etymology 1

From methyl +‎ -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Verb

methylate (third-person singular simple present methylates, present participle methylating, simple past and past participle methylated)

1. To add, or treat with methyl alcohol (see methylated spirits)
2. (organic chemistry) To add a methyl group to a compound
3. (biochemistry) To add a methyl group to a nucleic acid as part of the process of gene expression

Related terms

• methylation

Etymology 2

From methyl +‎ -ate (“derivative”)

Noun

methylate (plural methylates)

1. (chemistry) The anion -O-CH₃^- derived from methanol by loss of a proton; any salt containing this anion