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barium sulfate
noun
: a crystalline insoluble compound BaSO4 that is used especially as a pigment and extender, as a filler (as in fluids used in gas and oil drilling), and as a substance opaque to X-rays in medical photography of the digestive tract
Examples of barium sulfate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This procedure uses X-rays to examine your rectum, large intestine, and the lower part of the small intestine after administration of a barium enema (a liquid containing barium sulfate that, when in the body, highlights parts of the GI tract) into your rectum.
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Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Oct. 2024
To make the eels more visible to X-rays, the scientists injected them with a harmless high-contrast medium of barium sulfate.
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Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024
Most critically, the all-important barium sulfate needs to be mined in ways that can be environmentally damaging.
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Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023
The paint has a very high concentration of barium sulfate, a highly reflective material that is key to the paints cooling capabilities.
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Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023
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Word History
First Known Use
1865, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near barium sulfate
Cite this Entry
“Barium sulfate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barium%20sulfate. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
barium sulfate
noun
: a colorless crystalline compound that is a sulfate of barium used especially in taking X-ray photographs of the digestive tract
Medical Definition
barium sulfate
noun
: a colorless crystalline insoluble salt BaSO4 occurring in nature as barite and used medically chiefly as a radiopaque substance
More from Merriam-Webster on barium sulfate
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about barium sulfate
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