car·box·yl·ate I. \-ˌlāt, -_lə̇t\noun (-s) Etymology:carboxyl + -ate : a salt, ester, or acylal of a carboxylic acid II. \-ˌlāt\transitive verb (-ed/-ing/-s) Etymology:carboxyl + -ate : to introduce carboxyl or carbon dioxide into (a compound) with formation of a carboxylic acid • car·box·yl·a·tion\(ˌ)kärˌbäksəˈlāshən\noun-s