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. —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. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 13 Sep. 2024

Most critically, the all-important barium sulfate needs to be mined in ways that can be environmentally damaging. —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. —Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 14 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1865, in the meaning defined above

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