ammonia

noun

am·​mo·​nia ə-ˈmō-nyə 

1

: a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH₃ that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure

2

: ammonia water

Examples of ammonia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Even better, glosses are formulated without harsh chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which weaken keratin (the protein that keeps your strands strong). —Jenna Ryu, SELF, 2 Dec. 2024

Rats, too, dislike the acidic odor in vinegar, and ammonia smells similar to predator urine, which can scare them away. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024

Juno has other instruments too, including a magnetometer to map Jupiter's magnetic field and a microwave radiometer to measure the abundance of water and ammonia in the planet's atmosphere. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Moreover, the Kingdom’s location along major trade routes facilitates the efficient shipping of hydrogen, likely from ammonia, to key markets in Northern Europe, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, derivative based on Latin sal ammōniacus "rock salt," literally, "salt of Ammon," from ammōniacus "of Ammon," borrowed from Greek ammōniakós, derivative of Ámmōn, an Egyptian deity identified by the Greeks with Zeus, borrowed from Egyptian ỉmn; from its having been extracted near an oracle of Ammon near the Siwa oasis in Egypt

Note: The identification of sal ammoniac, not well described by ancient authors, as ammonium chloride was apparently part of medieval alchemical tradition.

First Known Use

1788, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ammonia

• ammonia water

Kids Definition

ammonia

noun

am·​mo·​nia ə-ˈmō-nyə 

1

: a colorless gas that is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, has a sharp smell and taste, is easily dissolved in water, can easily be made a liquid by cold and pressure, is used to make ice, fertilizers, and explosives, and is the chief nitrogen-containing waste product of many organisms that live in water

2

: a solution of ammonia in water

ammoniacal

ˌam-ə-ˈnī-ə-kəl

adjective

Etymology

from Latin sal ammoniacus "ammonium chloride," literally "salt of Ammon," named for the Egyptian god Ammon near whose temple the salt was extracted

Medical Definition

ammonia

noun

am·​mo·​nia ə-ˈmō-nyə 

1

: a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH₃ that is very soluble in water and can easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure

2

: ammonia water