From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishateate /et, eɪt $ eɪt/ verb EATthe past tense of eat-ate-ate /ət, eɪt/ suffix 1 [in adjectives]XX full of or showing a particular quality affectionate (=showing love)2 [in verbs]XX to make something have a particular quality activate (=make something start working) regulate (=control something or make it regular)3 [in nouns]XX a group of people with particular duties the electorate (=voters)4 [in nouns]XX the job, rank, or degree of a particular type of person She was awarded her doctorate (=PhD).5 [in nouns]HC a chemical salt formed from a particular acid phosphate —-ately /ətli/ [in adverbs] fortunately
Examples from the Corpus
-ate• a doctorate• to activate• to regulate• very affectionateOrigin -ate Latin -atus 