reagent
noun
re·agent rē-ˈā-jənt 
: a substance used (as in detecting or measuring a component, in preparing a product, or in developing photographs) because of its chemical or biological activity
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web From start to finish, Melvani’s variation of two-ingredient spinach pasta is so speedy that the limiting reagent is literally waiting for a pot of water to come to a boil. 
Ella Quittner, Bon Appétit, 17 Aug. 2022 Bonham had been the crucial reagent; as had been the case with Keith Moon’s spiralling alcoholism, the increasing unreliability of the drummer closely tracked the decline of the band. James Wood, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022 In the case of salt, for example — probably the most important for runners — the process uses a reagent that reacts with its chloride to turn it purple. Richard A. Lovett, Outside Online, 11 Dec. 2020 If too little or too much diluent, or reagent, is used, even that can deliver a false negative or positive result. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2022 With the popular BinaxNow test, for example, you’re supposed to swab each of your nostrils for 15 seconds and rotate the swab three times after placing it in the reagent. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2021 With molecular tests, the swab is inserted into a small container, where the sample is mixed with a reagent, a substance that starts the process of revealing the sample’s genetic makeup. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2021 Cheng’s team, for example, used a commercially available phospholipid reagent to slip a peptide known to home to heart cells into exosome membranes. Amanda B. Keener, Scientific American, 17 June 2020 Then the swab is joined with a test strip and a liquid reagent. Karen Kaplan Science And Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021 See More
Ella Quittner, Bon Appétit, 17 Aug. 2022 Bonham had been the crucial reagent; as had been the case with Keith Moon’s spiralling alcoholism, the increasing unreliability of the drummer closely tracked the decline of the band. James Wood, The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2022 In the case of salt, for example — probably the most important for runners — the process uses a reagent that reacts with its chloride to turn it purple. Richard A. Lovett, Outside Online, 11 Dec. 2020 If too little or too much diluent, or reagent, is used, even that can deliver a false negative or positive result. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 4 Jan. 2022 With the popular BinaxNow test, for example, you’re supposed to swab each of your nostrils for 15 seconds and rotate the swab three times after placing it in the reagent. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2021 With molecular tests, the swab is inserted into a small container, where the sample is mixed with a reagent, a substance that starts the process of revealing the sample’s genetic makeup. Jon Healey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2021 Cheng’s team, for example, used a commercially available phospholipid reagent to slip a peptide known to home to heart cells into exosome membranes. Amanda B. Keener, Scientific American, 17 June 2020 Then the swab is joined with a test strip and a liquid reagent. Karen Kaplan Science And Medicine Editor, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin reagent-, reagens, present participle of reagere to react — more at react
First Known Use
1797, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing reagent
Medical Definition
reagent
noun
re·agent rē-ˈā-jənt
1
: a substance used (as in detecting or measuring a component, in preparing a product, or in developing photographs) because of its chemical or biological activity
2
: reactor sense 1b
- controversialist
- controversialists
- controversialities
- controversially
- controversies
- controversion
- controversy
- controvert
- controverted
- controverted election
- controverter
- controverters
- controvertible
- controverting
- controvertist
- controvertists
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- contumaciously
- contumaciousnesses
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- contumelies