supernatant

[ soo-per-neyt-nt ]

/ ˌsu pərˈneɪt nt /

floating above or on the surface.

Origin of supernatant

1655–65; < Latin supernatant- (stem of supernatāns), present participle of supernatāre to swim or float above. See super-, natant

The santaline falls, and the supernatant liquor, which is yellow by transmitted, appears blue by reflected light.

A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines |Andrew Ure
The supernatant acetate of soda may be employed for the extraction of pure acetic acid.

A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines |Andrew Ure
Allow to stand twenty-four hours, then centrifugalise thoroughly and decant the supernatant fluid into a well-stoppered bottle.

The Elements of Bacteriological Technique |John William Henry Eyre
Agitate distillate with dry potassium carbonate, and draw off some of the supernatant fluid for testing.

Aids to Forensic Medicine and Toxicology |W. G. Aitchison Robertson

Let the mixture stand until the supernatant fluid is entirely clear.

Getting Gold |J. C. F. Johnson

supernatant

/ (ˌsuːpəˈneɪtənt) /

floating on the surface or over something

chem (of a liquid) lying above a sediment or settled precipitate

supernatation, noun

C17: from Latin supernatāre to float, from super- + natāre to swim