‖n.; pl. Chelæ [ NL., fr. Gr. chhlh` claw. ] (Zool.) The pincherlike claw of Crustacea and Arachnida. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Hind. chēla, orig., slave, fr. Skr. cē&tsdot_;a, cē&tsdot_;aka, slave, servant. ] In India, a dependent person occupying a position between that of a servant or slave and a disciple; hence, a disciple or novice. -- Che"la*ship, n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. (Zool.) Same as Cheliferous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) a compound formed by combination of a metal ion in solution with a compound containing heteroatoms (such as oxygen or nitrogen), in which at least two heteroatoms are bound to the metal. The bonds may be covalent or non-covalent. Chelates in some cases have very low dissociation constants, and organic compounds (chelating agents) which form such chelates are therefore used to reduce the concentration of free metal ions in solution. [ PJC ]

adj. combined with a chelator so as to form a chelate; -- of metal ions.
Syn. -- chelate. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Chem.) a compound which forms a chelate with a metal ion. Commonly used chelating agents in laboratory use are EDTA and sodium citrate. Citrate is used as an additive to blood collected in blood banks, to chelate the calcium ions and retard clotting. [ PJC ]

n. the process of removing a heavy metal from a solution by means of a chelate; as (Med.) the treatment of lead or mercury poisoning by adding a chelating agent to the blood. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. the process of forming a ring by forming one or more hydrogen bonds. [ WordNet 1.5 ]