Agars

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A gelatinous substance obtained from seaweed, utilized extensively in laboratory settings for growing microbes and cells
2. A thickening and gelling agent sourced from red algae, prominently used in various culinary dishes and desserts
3. A jelly-like material derived from marine algae used to cultivate bacteria and other cells in labs ; a natural thickener and stabilizer employed in making food thicker or gelatinous

Etymology: "Agars" is simply the plural of "agar", so the key facts concern the singular. The substance takes its name from Malay, where "agar" or "agar-agar" means "jelly," a fitting label for a gel extracted from red seaweeds. Its ultimate origin is uncertain: one proposal links it to the Hindi word "agar," which in turn may derive from Sanskrit "agaru," the name of a fragrant aromatic wood. The two words are unrelated in sense, which makes the connection a tempting but unproven thread.

Synonyms: agar, gelatin, jelly, pectin