retention time

noun

A measure of the amount of time required for a solute to pass through a chromatography column after it has been injected.

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Meanings

nounretention time (countable and uncountable, plural retention times)

plural retention times

  1. countableuncountableanalytical chemistrychemistryA measure of the amount of time required for a solute to pass through a chromatography column after it has been injected.
  2. countableuncountablemedicineThe length of time that a substance, material, or treatment remains in the body or is maintained before it is eliminated and excreted from the system.
Cite this entry
APA

retention time. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retention%20time

MLA

“retention time.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retention%20time. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retention time,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retention%20time.

Source: retention time on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.