phosphatasecommon nounEtymologyexpandsee phosphate and -aseDefinition1. An enzyme whose function is to remove a phosphate group from a simple molecule or biological macromolecule, by hydrolysis.enzymesexpandPluralphosphatasesHyperonymhydrolaseHyponymsphosphatase alcalinephosphatase acideTranslationsgerman:phosphatasenenglish:phosphatasespanish:fosfatasadutch:fosfatase