English Meaning & Definitions
The clear liquid that lies above a sediment or precipitate after a process like centrifugation, precipitation, or settling.
- “After centrifuging the blood sample, the clear supernatant was carefully pipetted into a new tube for analysis.”
- “The researcher discarded the pellet and kept the supernatant, which contained the dissolved proteins.”
Floating on the surface; denoting a liquid which remains above a layer of solid or denser liquid.
- “The supernatant liquid was decanted to separate it from the heavy precipitate at the bottom of the beaker.”
- “In many chemical reactions, the supernatant layer contains the desired product in solution.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “supernatant”.
From the Latin 'supernatant-', the stem of 'supernatans', which is the present participle of 'supernatare' meaning 'to swim above'. It is a compound of 'super' (above) and 'natare' (to swim). The term has been used in scientific contexts since the 17th century to describe liquids resting atop solid matter.
Think of 'super' as 'above' and 'natant' as 'floating' (like a swimmer)—it is the liquid floating above the sediment.
Frequently Asked Questions About “supernatant”
1. What is the meaning of “supernatant” in English?
In English, supernatant (noun) is defined as: “The clear liquid that lies above a sediment or precipitate after a process like centrifugation, precipitation, or settling.”.
2. How do you use “supernatant” in a sentence?
“After centrifuging the blood sample, the clear supernatant was carefully pipetted into a new tube for analysis.”
3. What are English synonyms of “supernatant”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “supernatant”?
From the Latin 'supernatant-', the stem of 'supernatans', which is the present participle of 'supernatare' meaning 'to swim above'. It is a compound of 'super' (above) and 'natare' (to swim). The term has been used in scientific contexts since the 17th century to describe liquids resting atop solid matter.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.