nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter, that is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry and as a fuel, and that is an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas produced by combustion

called also laughing gas

compare nitric oxide

Examples of nitrous oxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tottenham Hotspur have suspended midfielder Yves Bissouma for their Premier League opening match against Leicester City after footage emerged of him appearing to inhale nitrous oxide. —Jay Harris, The Athletic, 15 Aug. 2024

Risk of addiction: People who use nitrous oxide regularly are more likely to become psychologically dependent. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 25 Sep. 2024

Evil Dentists There was also a Weeknd who seemed to be addicted to nitrous oxide. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2024

Doe is the second former staffer to raise concern about West’s alleged nitrous oxide use, after his former chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos claimed that celebrity dentist Thomas P. Connelly was hooking West up with copious amounts of laughing gas for recreational use. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas that when inhaled causes loss of the ability to feel pain and sometimes produces laughter and is used especially in dentistry

called also laughing gas

Medical Definition

nitrous oxide

noun

: a colorless gas N₂O that when inhaled produces loss of sensibility to pain preceded by exhilaration and sometimes laughter and is used especially as an anesthetic in dentistry

called also laughing gas