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A liquid lying above a sediment (floating on the surface)
Answer for the clue "A liquid lying above a sediment (floating on the surface) ", 11 letters:
supernatant
Word definitions for supernatant in dictionaries
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Supernatant \Su`per*na"tant\, a. [L. supernatanus, p. pr. of supernatare to swim above; super above + natare to swim.] Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water.
Wiktionary
Word definitions in Wiktionary
a. 1 (context of a liquid English) Lying above a sediment or precipitate 2 Floating on the surface of a liquid n. 1 The liquid that lies above a sediment or precipitate; supernate 2 Material that floats on the surface of a liquid
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Word definitions in Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"floating on the surface," 1660s, from Latin supernatantem (nominative supernatans ), present participle of supernatare "to swim above," from super (see super- ) + natare "to swim," frequentative of nare "to swim" (see natatorium ). Related: Supernatation ...
WordNet
Word definitions in WordNet
adj. of a liquid; floating on the surface above a sediment or precipitate; "the supernatant fat was skimmed off" n. a liquid lying above a sediment (floating on the surface)
Usage examples of supernatant.
This can be counteracted by precipitating in both solutions a mixture of ferric and aluminic hydrates, which settles readily and leaves the supernatant liquor clear.
Oatmeal gruel may be made by boiling from one to two ounces of the meal with three pints of water down to two pints, then straining the decoction, and pouring off the supernatant liquid when cool.