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phorate

phorate

1 9.9
A very poisonous pesticide used on crops to kill insects
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔːreɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : forato
  • After spraying the field with phorate, it is important to keep children and pets away for several days.
  • phorate metabolite

Examples

  • Farmers often use phorate as a pesticide to control pest insects on crops.

  • For example, insecticide-treated seed and insecticide granules, including carbofuran, fensulfothion, fonofos, and phorate, are particularly toxic to birds when consumed.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Before applying phorate, be sure to wear protective clothing due to its high toxicity.

Synonyms

malathion
vsphorate
  • Specialized
7 8.5

A yellow chemical that kills insects on plants and in homes

is focused on controlling insects on crops rather than household pests
disulfoton
vsphorate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A poisonous substance used on crops to kill insects

is higher in toxicity and therefore more dangerous in normal use
phosphamidon
vsphorate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very poisonous chemical used on farms to kill insects

is specifically an organophosphate type used on crops
endosulfan
vsphorate
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A harmful poison used on crops to kill insects and now banned in many places

is not described as legally banned and is used on crops
chlorpyrifos
vsphorate
  • Specialized
9.9

A toxic chemical used on crops to kill insects

is narrower in scope, focusing on insects on crops rather than broad pests
methoxychlor
vsphorate
  • Archaic
9.9

A man-made chemical used to kill insects on crops

is a specific organophosphate and is described as highly toxic
spinosad
vsphorate
  • Specialized
9.0

A natural product made from soil bacteria that kills insect pests on crops and plants

is synthetic, an organophosphate, and described as highly toxic rather than natural
carbaryl
vsphorate
  • Specialized
8.9

An insect poison used on crops and in gardens to kill pests

is mainly for crop use and is described as highly toxic organophosphate
lead arsenate
vsphorate
  • Archaic
9.9

A poisonous white chemical once used to kill insects on crops

is used now on crops rather than being an obsolete compound

Surface Forms

phorate singular
phorates plural

Etymology

Phorate is formed like many chemical names: it echoes phosphate, a name for a phosphorus chemical, and it ends in -ate, a common ending for a chemical 'salt' or 'ester'. So, phorate is a phosphorus-based pesticide, and thinking of phosphate and the -ate ending helps you remember it is a strong, toxic chemical used to kill insects.