Standard Lemma guide

esterify

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To combine with an alcohol or (of an alcohol) to combine with an acid, to form an ester.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

change (a compound) into an ester

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change state, turn

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English ester Latin -i- Proto-Indo-European *dheh1-der. Proto-Italic *θakos Proto-Italic *-fakos Latin -ficus Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh2yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h2tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -ficō Latin -ificāreder. Old French -ifierbor. Middle English -ifien English -ify English esterify From ester + -ify.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: esterificar — Translations
  • Chinese Cantonese: 酯化 (zi2 faa3) — Translations
  • Chinese Mandarin: 酯化 (zhǐhuà) — Translations
  • Dutch: veresteren — Translations
  • French: estérifier — Translations
  • Italian: esterificare — Translations
  • Romanian: a esterifica — Translations
  • Spanish: esterificar — Translations
  • Welsh: esteru — Translations