agar

[ ah-gahr, ag-er ]
/ ˈɑ gɑr, ˈæg ər /

noun

Also a·gar-a·gar. Also called Chinese gelatin, Chinese isinglass, Japanese gelatin, Japanese isinglass. a gelatinlike product of certain seaweeds, used for solidifying certain culture media, as a thickening agent for ice cream and other foods, as a substitute for gelatin, in adhesives, as an emulsifier, etc.
Biology. a culture medium having an agar base.

Origin of agar

First recorded in 1885–90, agar is from the Malay word agaragar seaweed from which a gelatin is rendered, or the gelatin itself

Example sentences from the Web for agar-agar

British Dictionary definitions for agar-agar

agar
/ (ˈeɪɡə) /

noun

a complex gelatinous carbohydrate obtained from seaweeds, esp those of the genus Gelidium, used as a culture medium for bacteria, a laxative, in food such as ice cream as a thickening agent (E406), etc Also called: agar-agar

Word Origin for agar

C19: Malay

Medical definitions for agar-agar

agar
[ āgär′, ägär′ ]

n.

A gelatinous material derived from marine algae, used as a base for bacterial culture media and as a stabilizer and thickener in food.
A culture medium containing this material.

Scientific definitions for agar-agar

agar
[ āgär′, ägär′ ]

A gelatinous material obtained from marine algae, especially seaweed, used as a medium for growing bacterial cultures in the laboratory and as a thickener and stabilizer in food products.